This may may be a little premature as the Universal has only been available for such a short while, however I would really appreciate the input of the expert knowledge that makes this one of the greatest forums in the world.
I am starting a small business within the next few months and will initially have a workforce of around 6 people. The majority of the work will involve taking calls, using word+excel+powerpoint, viewing and reviewing small online videos and data input to an online database. The staff will also be dispatched to the field and will need to work remotely.
So my theoretical question is whether the universal could be used as a desktop replacement for use within the office where a central server/computer provides wifi connection and as a remote terminal whilst in the field.
The questions I have therefore are:
Do you think I will be able to bring the VGA out onto a 15” monitor? either natively via USB or via an adapter such as the ‘IGO pitch duo’ or ‘Margi’ etc. My knowledge here is limited, but if activesync can show this on the desktop. Could the internal display on the universal be routed to an external monitor instead of the main screen, I believe Nydot has some software to help achieve this. Will this be an appropriate UI, I can not expect staff to use a 3.6" screen all day long.
Will I encounter problems with multiple devices in one room? I.E. Sharing a wifi connection, multiple Bluetooth headsets and keyboards used in a confined space.
Will I be able to use VOIP on each of the six phones running with different numbers at the same time through one broadband connected computer?
Also if anyone can foresee other problems that may arise from the use of pocketpcs instead of desktops/laptops please let me know. Does anyone know of any other small companies that already have tried or succeeded at this before now?
Thanks in advance, your views on this will help greatly, as I would hate to buy six universals and then have to buy six laptop/desktops as well.
Jamie Honey
From experience
Hi and good luck with your startup,
I used to run a business in the UK on behalf of a friend from UAE, back in 1992. I got a Psion organiser and a printer, but boy, it is painful to work on a small device all day long. We already have problems with well designed macro systems with eye strain and rsi.
So i will recommend you get a few PCS and a couple laptops for field work and a couple pda's and people can share and swap, it will also create variety which is good for business morale, and since you will be using the windows platform, no problem with syncing and sharing...
Just an advice...
Regards
Nabil H
Hi Jayman,
As far as I'm aware, the JasJar doesn't have an external VGA output that would allow you to view internal screen contents on an external monitor.
The only way this could be achieved would be by using some type of SDIO card that facilitated a VGA output function.
The HTC Himalaya Device (XDA2 and XDA2i) have an interface underneath the battery that supports a little backpack that has a VGA output and a CF card slot. However the Himalaya doesn't have all the features of the JasJar.
As long as you configure your Wifi devices correctly (DHCP/Static IP - no duplicates, you will have no problems. The same goes for your bluetooth connections. For bluetooth you will need to implement a strict naming scheme for the devices in order to avoid confusion.
I'm not too sure about the VOIP query - i'll research that and get back to you later as i'm curious about that as well.
Pocket PCs are not ergonimcally condusive with an intense longterm working environment. As Nabil2000 stated, your employess will eventually feel the ill health effects associated with working in a "cramped" position on such a small device.
Hope this helps
Good luck with you business idea
Qaz
So Jayman, what did you do in the end?
xerxes
I am currently getting bored with my Hermes, I have flashed about 10 Roms in the past few months and I have followed the herd on almost every customized look we can come up with (Black, Custel, iphone lookalike, kaiser lookalike) you name it.
SO I thought I would reach out and see what other people are using their Hermes for. First and foremost I use mine as a phone. Anyone else? I also use Tomtom for Nav and orb for music and videos. Once and a while I stream XM too because I have an account. But thts about it.
I would love to hear about what else I can do and what other people think the best thing they have found on the Hermes is. I'm curious to see how crazy it can get.
Links to the coolest things folks here have done:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1010449&postcount=5
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=672628&postcount=1
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1011991&postcount=10
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1012249&postcount=5
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1209297&postcount=40
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1218608&postcount=17
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1238684&postcount=7
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1213780&postcount=4
Mike
when I'm bored I use it to mess around with other people's phones and pc's,
funny how so many people leave their bluetooth on nowadays on both phones and laptops
I also use it to surf the net in classes (no laptop policy)
anyone else \()/?
afguard17 said:
I am currently getting bored with my Hermes, I have flashed about 10 Roms in the past few months and I have followed the herd on almost every customized look we can come up with (Black, Custel, iphone lookalike, kaiser lookalike) you name it.
SO I thought I would reach out and see what other people are using their Hermes for. First and foremost I use mine as a phone. Anyone else? I also use Tomtom for Nav and orb for music and videos. Once and a while I stream XM too because I have an account. But thts about it.
I would love to hear about what else I can do and what other people think the best thing they have found on the Hermes is. I'm curious to see how crazy it can get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Orb is awesome (I was watching Anchorman on my commute home this evening), also I use my Hermes mostly for work, so tons of email (100 a day or so), attachment viewing\editing). TomTom is a life saver, as is GoogleMaps (saves me lots of 411 charges). Besides that day to day stuff, playing with ROMs and using it to wow friends and co-workers ("I forgot my ethernet cable! how am I supposed to get online now?!"..."Oh, please... allow me" along with a million other examples), wardriving, camera, mp3 player etc.
When I am bored I use the cameras three shot panorama mode to do funny things like getting a friend to do different poses in each of the three shots when the photo is finished its pretty cool. Seeing the same person three times in the same shot doing different things can pretty funny and if you have an imagination you can do some wicked stuff, ill have to look around for some of my shots and post them.
Psiodon
haha Mike Channon you smart ass.. lol.
I use my Hermes as a webcam.. .. The guy mentioned above likes to see me naked for some reason..
I know it is stupid, but I find it cool to run old games using ScummVM. Friends are amazed when they see (and hear) Monkey Island or DOTT on this device. (for the same reason, I have DOOM on my Nokia phone )
The Pebbles application (bluetooth remote control) is fun to play around with, as it offers a great deal of controllers (touchpad, scrollwheel, ...). But I haven't got round to making a proper interface for the softwares I use (at the moment, I prefer to use Puppetmaster on my Nokia to control my laptop, is this also displays data from the application on the mobile screen).
From a technological point of view, the internet sharing via bluetooth is IMO one of the coolest features of the device.
Of course, being able to view movies or get some work done on a plane is great too. And then there is PocketFMS: connect the TyTN to a bt gps, and you get a moving map flight management system (yep, for general aviation!); which can be combined with weather data!
It is a cool device... but could be more stable at times.
Jörg
I have a bluetooth to serial device, which means I can run terminal connections over bluetooth.. so I can use it to configure routers etc.. just plug the dongle into a serial port.. connect via the phone and there's no need to carry round a laptop for that anymore.
I also use it as a phone and pda of course for those things.. For a normal day it can practically replace my laptop for dealing with both windows and *nix machines.. Pretty good if you ask me.
If you really are that bored of it send me it I can put it to good use
(oh yeah and I play scummVM on it too )
sambartle said:
I have a bluetooth to serial device, which means I can run terminal connections over bluetooth..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My I ask what kind of bt-serial device? Does it have its own battery, or does it draw power from the serial port?
I have no experience with such devices, but the reason I'm asking is that I wonder if it is possible to connect a bluetooth GPS to a Nikon D200 (this has a serial port for a GPS, to allow for coordinates to be embedded in the exif header). Of course, a setup like this is not supported (I mailed Nikon with this question), but they didn't say it wouldn't work (they hadn't thought of this).
Thanks!
Jörg
sambartle said:
I have a bluetooth to serial device, which means I can run terminal connections over bluetooth.. so I can use it to configure routers etc.. just plug the dongle into a serial port.. connect via the phone and there's no need to carry round a laptop for that anymore.
I also use it as a phone and pda of course for those things.. For a normal day it can practically replace my laptop for dealing with both windows and *nix machines.. Pretty good if you ask me.
If you really are that bored of it send me it I can put it to good use
(oh yeah and I play scummVM on it too )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what can you do on a windows box via serial? on a unix/linux box: that must be pretty hard given its lack of VT100 support i.e. 80x24, and no wrap around lines.
having a satnav system...
me walking like a walking encyclopedia ..
wealth of info related to work.. (medically.. )
oh forgot to mention is i dont have to worry about mespilling something.
Orb is the best
The Slingbox player is always nice to have when there is time to kill.
The "coolest" (geekyest) thing I've done is use it to control my irrigation system. I have several Insteon home automation devices installed and when I needed to check all the different irrigation zone sprinklers, I just used the phone to remote in to the host PC and turn on/off each area while I walked around the yard and made adjustments. I could also use the same process to control all the lighting in the house as well.
+1000 for Orb.
V J said:
My I ask what kind of bt-serial device? Does it have its own battery, or does it draw power from the serial port?
I have no experience with such devices, but the reason I'm asking is that I wonder if it is possible to connect a bluetooth GPS to a Nikon D200 (this has a serial port for a GPS, to allow for coordinates to be embedded in the exif header). Of course, a setup like this is not supported (I mailed Nikon with this question), but they didn't say it wouldn't work (they hadn't thought of this).
Thanks!
Jörg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its one of these (I actually got it cheaper than this - from the manufacturer who also sells them on ebay himself but has none on there at the minute), expansys also do them
It's powered via a USB cable.. But i have a solar charging unit that outputs via USB and works fine with it.. so i dont need usb to use it.. does the nikon proivde 5v on any ports as that would probably work.. (maybe even the usb port if it has one and supports weird configs (not just to connect it to a pc as that wont suply voltage))
I have no idea if it will connect a bluetooth gps to a camera.. the closest i can try is linking it to my bluetooth gps and seeing if nmea flows to the serial port.. ill give it as go for you this week.
frustin said:
what can you do on a windows box via serial? on a unix/linux box: that must be pretty hard given its lack of VT100 support i.e. 80x24, and no wrap around lines.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
depends whats connected to the windows box .. or what software its running.. or what its purpose is.. (i work in telecommunications)
On a desktop theres probably not much point, but theres switches, analysers, ATM's all sorts of industrial windows installations that all have serial diiagnostics and terminals..
on a *nix box its pretty much the same deal.. if its running a serial terminal i can connect to it with mToken or Mobile Putty.. theres hundreds of different bits of serial kit you can connect too.. serial is serial doesnt matter that its sent via bluetooth to the PPC.
Works on routers and all kinds of switching gear.. it's absolutly invaluable to me!!
Cool things with the TYTN
I assigned VJCandela to one of the side buttons, this help locating the key hole to my door (home, not car, I am a responsible person!) when it's pitch dark and I polished a few with the boys!
This phone belongs in a James Bond movie, period.
possibilities are endless!
Orb is great!
The Slingbox pro is awesome!!!
Im was thinking the same think as far as what else is possible via these phones... the quest for home automation is what brought me here (via search)
I think the links in the 2nd post should keep me busy for a bit...
Thanks!
Xtra
frustin said:
what can you do on a windows box via serial? on a unix/linux box: that must be pretty hard given its lack of VT100 support i.e. 80x24, and no wrp around lines.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wuh?
Methinks you didn't read his reply all that thoroughly.
Routers, at least enterprise class routers have serial managmenet ports - hence him specifically mentioning serial in the same sentence as routers and nothing else.
I'm not even sure I know what you're trying to say regarding VT100 support - which is just one of many types of terminal emulation (based on the old DEC VT100 video terminal). Windows itself doesn't provide out-of-band management compatible with textual terminals, but many servers *do* have serial out-of-band facilities which can in turn talk to Windows running on said server...think lights out managmement. Most Sun servers have serial access to both the PROM and running OS, and you can redirect a serial port to a console in Linux.
I'm betting that when the OP mentioned managing Winders boxen with his Hermes he was thinking RDP.
But you knew all that I'm sure. =)
I'm a musician - I use it as a guitar tuner (PhoneTuner), I have a spectrum analyzer (HASA) for finding feedback frequencies when doing sound checks, I use it to record songs I'm working on with an MP3 recorder(AudioNotes), to record lyrics (Word, Notes, or even putting lyrics into a Task item so it will sync over the air with Outlook). I use ORB for streaming media from my server while on the road. I use the LED light as a flashlight mapped to the push and hold button with VJCandela. I use it as a timer for Texas Hold 'em poker to decide when to double the blind (SPB Time). I have an english dictionary, and a spanish-english dictionary on it. I use it to read ebooks (HaaliReader). I use it as an RPN calculator (CalcNOW). I use INAV for GPS guidance with a bluetooth GPS receiver when on tour.
Hi all,
I have had my new HTC shift now for a week and a half. I have come to the conclusion that it is a V8 race car with four spark plugs removed, wheels replaced with those of a Morris Minor, and communications replaced with a Bakelite radio! (Apart from that it's brilliant)
When buying the shift I was slightly misled by the salesperson who sort of indicated that the SnapView side of the shift would be usable after it had been liberated. This is far from the truth.
I work with a government agency doing farm cropping experimentation work, I need my device to be able to communicate with multiple serial devices (such as data logging weather stations, electronic scales etc)
My Dell X50v did all that and much more (until my wife sat on it and broke the digitiser). I realise I can communicate to these devices using the PC side but there are times when I need the device to be connected for long periods running on battery only, and I had some very cool software that communicates extremely well and is very easy to use on the ppc side.
So here are some of my questions, (I have heaps lol, but this will do for a start)
1)Is there likely to be anyway we can have Windows Mobile communicate with anything? (Except its own Vista version or while Vista is running in the background)
2) I am running the latest versions of pocket office and ActiveSync or whatever you call it in Vista, however every time I try and save an Excel worksheet in WM6 I get the error message that tells me formatting will be lost and gives me the option to "save as". Every time I reopen the newly saved worksheet in Vista and re-save it then opened a gain in pocket Excel I get the same message again!. It's driving me nuts! They're all saved as Excel worksheets so they should work. Has anyone any ideas?
3) And finally just a quick question on the GPS. I have seen some post regarding the GPS in WM6, has this device got an inbuilt GPS? Will updating the ROM enable it?
3.) There are ROM's with GPS enabled, just have a look for them
2.) For me a Office install from CAB (cause my rom doesnt have office) did the Job
1.) windows Mobile can conenct to any internet address or what u like to connect it to ? You have your apps for your scales / serial stuff for windows mobile ?
Your serial stuff can be done with XP / Vista and a USB/Serial adapter
Greets
thank for the reply
with my old Axim i use a application called pocketDAQ It works so well and it relay data straight into pocket excell.
I guess I will just have to wait until some one get the usb or bluetooth working on the wm6 side
thanks
USE G1 As External GPS On Laptop - Can This Be Done
The reason why I am asking this is cause I am building A Car PC.
I can use the G1 as A Wifi Connection Surf The Net With Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc....
But It would be great to use with MS Streets Of Garmin PC, etc... with the Dreams GPS
If this has not been done yet it would be great if some one could (Must Likely a Developer) make a program that can do this
Thanks In Advance
And I Also Already Did This SEARCH FOR USE G1 As External GPS
im pretty sure this has been covered b4 but im not 100% and the answer then was no( i personaly dont know but i remember seeing a bunch of people saying no) well hopefully thats helps a lil..
maybe the dream uses a comport to communicate with the gps reciever, if that is true you may be able to redirect this to a bluetooth-comport
It may be possible, but I really don't think it would be worth the tremendous effort, considering GPS dongles can be had for less than 20 a pop.
I think it would be awesome to do since it's one less piece of equipment to carry around.
All it would take would be:
A program to take reading of the GPS info.
Convert it to the proper format (emulating a GPS dongle which isn't hard.)
There already are various programs that can send data to the PC. Use one of their code.
Have a program on the PC to translate it all into a virtual com port.
But then... I'm not a programmer. And the way I discribe it would be more like a hack than a proper program. But I don't believe the android API's allow you to control the way that the USB or the Bluetooth is identified by a computer.
It can be done but I don't think android naively supports the serial port profile over bluetooth which you would need to accomplish this. Once you figure that out all you need is to get your phone to spit out NMEA location data over that connection and your laptop will see it as a Generic GPS device.
phin1ght said:
It may be possible, but I really don't think it would be worth the tremendous effort, considering GPS dongles can be had for less than 20 a pop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, and if you're building a CarPC, a small GPS dongel - that can be placed in good line-of-sight - is the better option anyway.
-bZj
I would prefer connection over internet or WiFi as it won't be easy to provide sky view to an laptop or pc so any user may place his laptop or pc at an place, get near an window for sky view to his android phone, then the data would be transferred to pc via internet or WiFi connection instead of connecting usb chord each time...
There are already apps like printer share which uses the phones internet connection for printing, also the upcomming app teradesk that lets an user to get files from his pc even when we are far from our pc,.....
Both apps use a server and client method for data transfer... so hope this would be possible...
I have large 17" laptop with unused second hdd caddy (= i don't have second hdd in my laptop). As I work in various offices during year as contractor physical security of my laptop concerns me quite a lot. I often leave my laptop in the offices overnight. I am using kensington lock and all data are encrypted but let's move it to another level. Free space in second hdd caddy (http://www.ebay.com/bhp/2nd-hdd-caddy) could be used for installation of GPS/GSM tracking device
When is laptop locked e.g. in the office cabinet or on the table g-sensor could detect that someone took my laptop - then gps could be activated and each few minutes gprs could send me location of my laptop. First idea I had was to combine Arduino modules together but now I think I need just some c heap Android smartphone with g-sensor + gps. Smartphone battery could be easily charged (every working day ~ 8 hours) through SATA power connector as there are very similar voltage levels as in USB. I could even add extra batteries to have smartphone active for longer time - so even after one week holiday device would work fine. I could enable/disable this tracking device e.g. over bluetooth or simply setup schedule when to (de)activate smartphone tracking app. Smartphones are also pretty small so I would fit with extra batteries inside of hdd caddy - Arduino or any other custom hw would propably take more space. I have to test how good is GPS signal "inside of my laptop".
I need your advice now - which type of Android smartphone I should use for this purpose ? I need total control of g-sensor + gps + gprs + bluetooth - I don't mind to root phone to get everything I need. Preferably phone should be small and not with built in battery.
:angel:
hi dude,
u dont need an gps smartphone to track ur laptop.
u only need a tracking software on your lt!!
Google Prey.
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