The only Inbox service (or group of folders) that synchronizes with a desktop computer is the Activesync service. If you configure ActiveSync on your desktop PC to synchronize Inbox, then your email will appear in the ActiveSync folders in Inbox on your Pocket PC.
POP3 and IMAP4 services that you create on your Pocket PC will only communicate with POP3 and IMAP4 servers.
You can configure Inbox synchronization from ActiveSync on your desktop by clicking Tools, Options.
You can only synchronize Inbox with one desktop computer, and keep in mind that you are synchronizing email between Outlook and Inbox, not your email server and Inbox. (There is a work around to sync email with two desktop computers via a third party program.) Finally, any email that you synchronize to your Pocket PC will remain on your Pocket PC as long as it is in any folder that is part of your main outlook.pst file. So, if you delete a message in Outlook and that only moves the message from Inbox to Deleted Items, the message will stay on your Pocket PC until the message is removed from the Deleted Items folder. (I have my Outlook configured to automatically remove items from the Deleted Items folder when I shut down Outlook. The mail items will then be removed from my Pocket PC the next time that I synchronize.) The same holds for any Inbox subfolder, even if you don't synchronize those subfolders. Eg. you could move a message to a Saved Mail subfolder in Outlook and it will remain in the main Inbox folder. If you want to move messages to subfolders, and have them removed from your Pocket PC, you can create a new PST file, create the folders there and move it to those folders. When you do the message will then be removed from the Pocket PC.
Any message that you delete off your Pocket PC will be deleted from Outlook by moving it to the Deleted Items folder. Keep in mind that if you want to retain the message on your desktop, but remove it from your Pocket PC you will need to move the message to a different PST file on your desktop computer.
Finally, due to the way ActiveSync treats Outlook folders, the easiest way to remove messages, and for that matter remove old calendar and task items, is liberal use of Auto Archive in Outlook. Auto Archive moves items to a separate PST file named archive.pst. When the items are moved and you then synchronize the items will be removed from your Pocket PC. Unfortunately, there is no separate archival facility on the Pocket PC.
posted by Frank McPherson 1:21 PM |
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ZDNet: Tech Update: Networking / Analysts: Palm playing catch-up Yesterday I posted about Conrad Blickenstorfer's comments in the July issue of Pen Computing, wondering why Microsoft hasn't delivered the knock out blow. There are several answers to Conrad's question, as I wrote then. This ZDNet article, which I found via Pocket Now, points out another reason. Microsoft has been much more focused on enterprise customers for Pocket PC, which doesn't lend itself to a tremendous amount of publicity. Personally, I think this is a good approach by Microsoft because it sets a foundation for the platform. If you can be confident about getting X enterprise revenue per year, then you can afford to be creative with pricing for consumers.
posted by Frank McPherson 12:15 PM |
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ZAGAT To GO are a series of the popular Zagat dining and entertainment guides for the Pocket PC. Right now they have an introductory price of $24.95, which gives you unlimited access to all the guides for a year. A free 14 day trial is available. Unfortunately, they do not have a guide for the Detroit area.
posted by Frank McPherson 11:31 AM |
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T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Steve has written a good review of the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone, and nails the problem.
posted by Frank McPherson 11:19 PM |
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xda Accessories You'll find a list of accessories in the works for the XDA, which is the same Pocket PC Phone edition device that T-mobile is selling in the United States.
posted by Frank McPherson 11:13 PM |
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Last night I picked up the latest issue of Pen Computing. Is it just me, or does it seem that there has been a reversal in the state of handheld computing magazines? Pen Computing has been one of the longest running magazines dedicated to mobile devices, and usually runs much more content than Pocket PC Magazine. However, the July 2002 issue that I bought is paper thin in comparison to the lastest issue of Pocket PC Magazine. In fact, I think the last two issues of Pocket PC Magazine have been fantastic.
In this issue of Pen Computing Dave McNeill writes, "Am I the only guy on the planet who doesn't like typing with my thumbs?" No, Dave, you aren't. I also don't like the thumb keyboards. I have yet to find an implementation, even the Handspring Treo, that I have found to be faster for me than just using Character Recognizer on the Pocket PC. I used to have the original RIM Pager, and the keyboard on that works, probably because I can comfortably hold the whole device while typing on my thumbs. In my opinion PDAs are meant to be used with a stylus, and I agree completely with McNeill's POV. Then again, we're both old time Newton users, so that may explain our shared belief on this topic.
In the same issue Conrad Blickenstorfer also wonder's, with Palm on the ropes, why didn't Microsoft deliver the knockout punch with Pocket PC 2002? It's an interesting question that I think has a simple answer. Despite how good Pocket PC 2002 is, it is not that much more different than the first release of Pocket PC software. The other big problem is that Microsoft feels the hardware companies share the biggest burden for Pocket PC advertising, because in the end it is their devices that are going to sell. But all that being said, there has been a definite pull-back in the last year by Microsoft on marketing the Pocket PC. No Mobile Experience tour, less fan fests, little presence at Comdex, etc., all add up to me to a decrease in the budget for Pocket PC by Microsoft. It may be that even Microsoft has felt the pain of the slower economy. Finally, another big reason why Microsoft may not deliver a knock out blow is that they really do not see Palm as a competitor.
posted by Frank McPherson 3:28 PM |
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Question to anyone who owns a Toshiba E740? Do you use infrared to sync, and if you do, does it seem to be a lot slower than it should be?
posted by Frank McPherson 3:04 PM |
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I had a brain cramp this morning. When I got into the office I pulled out my Toshiba E740 Pocket PC, and pressed the power button. Nothing happened. I thought two things at the same time. One, do a soft reset. Two, check the battery switch. As I did both, and found that the battery switch had in fact slide down, I thought that I should not do a soft reset. Too late, the thought didn't reach my fingers faste enough and before I knew it I had forced a hard reset. (You would think in a world of computing that asks you multiple times if you really want to delete a file, Pocket PCs would be design to ask you if you really, really want to do a hard reset.)
Of course, at this point you are thinking, surely he had a backup. Alas, I had no backups of my E740 aside from the data that is backed up thanks to synchronization. So, no loss of data, but lost time in having to reinstall my applications, which thankfully ActiveSync's Add/Remove programs makes faster. However, bad me for not having a current backup on the storage card. (Note to self.. need to check that Sprite backup software and automate your backups.)
This is the second time this week that the battery switch on the E740 has moved. It is really in a bad location along the side of the device, where it is easy to be bumped when sliding out of a case or just sliding your hand down. Of the entire design for the E740 I think this is the one area where Toshiba made a mistake and that the battery lock should be recessed on the back of the device, right above the battery.
posted by Frank McPherson 3:02 PM |
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I did a little window shopping this evening. First I headed to one of the
local Voicestream stores, hoping to see the PPC Phone, but they didn't have
any. So I made my way over to CompUSA to see what they had, and when I first
walked in the door I saw a five foot tall Pocket PC Phone Edition / T-Mobile
banner. On display in the mobile phone section of the store was the PPC
Phone, and I have to say it is definitely a beauty. Definitely something
that I want.
Prices are $599 for new T-mobile customers, $724 for others. It looked like
they had nearly a dozen of them in stock behind the display. If I hadn't
plunked down the bucks for my Toshiba E740 a little over a month ago, I
would be very tempted to whip out the plastic to buy, but for now I'll be
patient.
If you are looking to see one of these in person check the CompUSAs. Since I
know my local Best Buy also sells Voicestream phones, I wouldn't be
surprised to find them there too. Chances are probably good you'll find them
at those retail outlets before Voicestream's own stores.
In a related matter, one thing that I did buy was a Toshiba leather holster,
which fits my E740 perfectly. What I like about it is that it doesn't add
much bulk to the E740. Looking at the case in the store and comparing it to
the T-Mobile PPC Phone, I wouldn't be surprised if the phone would go nicely
in this holster too.
The store also had an iPAQ 3975 and 3955 on display. The screens are indeed
beautiful.
posted by Frank McPherson 11:33 PM |
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Does this mean we might actually see a Windows SmartPhone by the end of the year?
posted by Frank McPherson 12:32 PM |
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Trans/ACT for Pocket PC: You CAN take it with you! This is a Pocket PC program that can work with ACT! data. However, it doesn't appear to synchronize with ACT!, instead, you download data from ACT! down to the Pocket PC. Without synchronization I am not sure what the value of this program is. Link found on Pocket PC Thoughts.
posted by Frank McPherson 10:21 AM |
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PocketPCHow2: How do I connect to corporate networks using VPN?
posted by Frank McPherson 11:20 PM |
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PocketPCHow2: How do I enable a web page to display in ClearType?
posted by Frank McPherson 11:20 PM |
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I was up later that I planned last night because I decided to install Laridian's Daily Reader on my Toshiba E740. Daily Reader is a specialized ebook reader program that is designed to read content specifically created for it by Laridian. I decided to install the program and the bundled One Year Bible on the Secure Digital card in the E740. After I did the installation I did a soft reset and knew something was immediately wrong because the E740 took forever to get past the welcome screen. I configure all my Pocket PCs to display owner information on reset.
In my past experience I learned that these type of lock ups are caused by the Pocket PC trying to read the storage card, so I popped out the storage card and that got me to the Today screen. I then popped in the storage card, started up File Explorer, and when I switched to the storage card it took forever to load the directory list. Not good. Somehow during the course of installing Daily Reader something got messed up with the Storage Card.
As you may know, Pocket PCs do not come with utilities like Scandisk or Defrag. The closest thing to these that I know of is CNetX's Flash Format, so I headed over to their web site and downloaded their 14 day, fully functional trial. I successfully installed Flash Format to internal storage on the E740, popped out the Secure Digital card, and did another soft reset. I then started up Flash Format, and popped in the card. To check the card you go to the Advanced tab and then tap Verify and Repair. Flash Format found a bad directory and a bunch of lost clusters that it offerred to repair, which I told it to do.
After Flash Format finished the repair, I did another verify to make sure everything was fixed, which it was. Then I closed out of Flash Format, and did a soft reset. Joy! This time the Pocket PC started up as it should, even with the card in the Secure Digital slot.
I then decided to re-install Daily Reader, but this time to internal storage, which worked as expected and did not mess up the storage card. Then I decided to install the Streams In The Desert book on the storage card, which was really the whole point of what I was trying to do in the first place. This time Laridian's Book Loader program had problems installing the book on the card, reporting that the card was out of space. It just would not completely install the entire file, but fortunatelly this time the Secure Digital card did not get messed up. Since it was getting late I decided to just install the book to internal storage and call it a night. Before I went to bed I fired off an email to Laridian's tech support telling them about my problem, and suggesting that the Book Loader should have an option to install directly to a storage card if a reader is connected to the desktop PC. Pocket Co-Pilot does this for installing maps to storage cards, and I like that feature a lot because it speeds up the whole installation process.
This morning I got a response back from Laridian suggesting that there must be some type of problem with my connection to the desktop PC. They have not had problems installing to Secure Digital Cards. Their response made me realize that through all of this I was using the E740's cradle and USB connection, and I never thought to switch the connection to either Bluetooth or WiFI. Personally, I suspect that there is a problem with the Pocket PC's drivers for Secure Digital cards. I have had similar problems occur with my iPAQ 3870 and Toshiba E570. Granted, the problems have all been with Sandisk cards, and others have reported problems with Sandisk, so that could be the source of the problem too.
There are several morals to this story. First off, don't start installing software at 11:30 PM. Murphy's Law will surely come into play and keep you up much later than planned. Second, I highly recommend CNetX's Flash Format. It is one of those type of programs that you hesitate to buy because you won't use it every day, but when you need it, you need it right away. The good news is that CNetX provides a fully functioning eval copy so that when a crisis occurs and you have an Internet connection, you can also grab the software.
posted by Frank McPherson 9:09 PM |
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I just checked FranklinCovey's online store I found that they are getting ready to release an update to their extensions to Microsoft Outlook. The details state that it synchronizes with Pocket PCs. Hopefully this version of FranklinCovey's software will have less bugs than the prior version.
posted by Frank McPherson 9:32 PM |
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This article suggests that Sendo will price their Smartphone device to be cheaper than O2's XDA, with an anticipated price of around $460 with contract. The article goes to report that the Smartphone won't be released until first quarter 2003, which would be later than the targetted September/October ship date.
posted by Frank McPherson 9:26 AM |
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I just received a press release informing me that a beta of TextMaker for Pocket PC will be available soon. TextMaker is a word processor for Windows CE devices, and a Handheld PC version has already been released. TextMaker will provide features such as footnotes and tables that are not in Pocket Word.
A retail version of TextMaker for Handheld PC will be bundled with the desktop word processor TextMaker for Windows, which runs on any 32 bit Windows operating system, and will sell for $69.95. It will be interesting to see how well this program sells at that price since most Pocket PC owners don't like software prices over $20.
posted by Frank McPherson 5:21 PM |
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Personal Technology -- Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal. Walt digs Danger, but check this out: "The battery lasts a day, maybe two, if you don't make many voice calls." Funny, people bitch about Pocket PC's battery life, and some how the one day life of this device is ok.
posted by Frank McPherson 3:18 PM |
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