Database Info

Advantage Not Fit for Purpose.

Hello, I have lodged a complaint and asked HTC to email me the fact that the X7510 is not fit for purpose.
Let me elaborate. I administer a Microsoft SBS 2003 server. My user/owner of the company asked me to research a mobile device which would synchronise all his Exchange/My Documents items. The HTC X7510 seemed the right choice as it appeared to allow complete synchronisation and had a 16GB storage size. No limitations were mentioned.
I then get the device and find:
1) It cannot synchronise My Documents to the 16GB storage
2) It cannot synchronise his Exchange server mailbox (10GB) 60,000 mail items - crashes
I mean, what's the point? 16GB of what?
Please do not mention 3rd party products as I am interested in an out of the box solution which this HTC is meant to be.
I just though that I would save a few people some time and money by reading this and then they would purchase a laptop.
Probably wouldn't bother with the Shift either if this is what you get.
Thanks.
Adrian.

Adrian,
With respect, an Exchange 2003 mailbox that goes over 2GB is poorly managed and will become corrupted. Microsoft has a utility to specifically deal with and recover Exchange 2003 mailboxes that are over 2 gigs. Get your boss to archive more often!
Addtionally, it is entirely possible to sync almost the entire contents of My Docs, but the question I'd ask is why would you want to?
A business owner would typically have many documents confidential to the business in their My Docs, so it's not a clever idea to sync all that to a portable device. A far better and more elegant solution would be to use SBS's remote workplace and the remote desktop client on the HTC. That way he can even use full apps installed at the office.

Also, I think you may miss the point of the Shift - most people seem to!
DON'T think of it as a phone, or a PDA or a WM device of any kind. It is a UMPC that just happens to have a WM side, so you don't always have to have the whole thing fully booted up. As such, the WM side was NOT intended to be free standing, as on any other WM device, but rather to compliment the functionality of the PC side.
Now some very clever people came up with Shift packs that allow you to "liberate" the WM side, making it far more fully featured, but it still is (in WM terms) a poor cousin to the Athena.
Go get a laptop, you say? Fine, but I suggest first do a needs analysys so you get a device/UMPC/laptop/mainfram/whatever that will actually deliver what you're looking at achieving.

Thanks..
Thanks for your elaborate and Company oriented reply.
My client (actually a friend of mine), I just happen to be an IT consultant, is a lawyer. He needs access to most of his My Documents and also all his emails. Exchange 2003 handles his 9.98 GB mailbox realy well in the office. From his laptop he RDPs over a VPN into the server no bother.
I do not think that a sync schedule which is .5K x 60000 items = 30MB should cause the Advantage a problem. And thats all his mailbox, if I just do 2007 and 2008 then thats 25000 items x 0.5K = 12.5MB.
Also the sync just does not complete - via cable, wireless (pardon the pun) or 3G. Now thats no big deal, just don't sell it as a complete sync solution for MS Exchange.
Also, the country I am in has a maximum ADSL bandwidth of 2MB down 512K up, to which his server is attached via a Cisco router.
RDP from the Advantage is a no because his eyesight is bad.
Thanks again for your constructive reply!

Actually my reply was neither company orientated, nor elaborate. If you wanted elaborate then we can delve into the mysteries of the Jet db technology underpinning Exchange 03, since that will also explain the 2 GB mailbox limit. Instead my reply was technically orientated.
I support amongst other things several Exchange 03 installations. Your friend's mailbox alone is approaching the 16 GB db limit Exchange 03 has (18 to 75 GB on SP2 boxes) and I will categorically state his mailbox is poorly managed.
Remember, WM does NOT sync an entire mailbox, but instead a subset of it. Going by what your client wants no WM device will do the trick. Instead, I suggest using a laptop with offline files and folders enabled. That way he'd have his FULL mailbox and ALL his docs with him.
Tell you one thing, though: the minute I hear my solicitor carries ALL his documents out of the office all the time is the minute I change law firm! The exposure is simply too great.

Iphone 3G, N95 8 GB
Thanks agan for your concise and erudite reply.
I will therefore, after several cooked ROMS and various HTC's, not darken this doorstep again.
I have configured my N95 8GB, and an IPhone 3G to sync this Exchange mailbox succesfully. They do not have the MS Office funtionality my friend requires.
Yes it is SP2 and I will be moving to SBS 2008 as soon as SP1 for SBS 2008 comes out .
The Advantage - It cannot do what it says.
And it costs a bomb.
And you, (well, I'm using you as the corporate HTC/Microsoft Active Sync/Jet Database/etc. figure) still haven't answered why the My Documents folder cannot be sync'd to the 16GB Flash out of the box but rather to the phone memory.
At the end of the day (and especially these credit crunch days) the user wants what the user wants. And what the user wants is a mobile device which has all his documents and all his emails.
The Advantage cannot do that, therefore is not fit for purpose.
"Smart Mobility?"
Regards,
Adrian.

Office 2007
Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that the users in the office with the SBS 2003 box are running Office 2007.
Thus, were I to use FTGate or MDaemon, or even a local pop account as opposed to Exchange, I could in theory have a local pst (or ost) file up to a size of 20GB. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830336
And so, if I chose an Advantage, with Office 2007 and a local pst file, ActiveSync could not synchronise all of it.
The Advantage is not fit for purpose. Or is it Windows Mobile that is not fit for purpose?
Probably Windows, 27 Microsoft exams have taught me this.
Don't sell something if it can't do what it says on the tin.
Adrian.

Adrian,
I don't want this to degenerate into a my-daddy-is-bigger-than-your-daddy type of argument. Having said that, I disagree with you on several aspects:
1) The .PST file in Outlook 03 and 07 can be configured to be up to 33 TB (yes, Tera Bytes) in size. The 33 TB limit is NOT defined by Microsoft, but instead is a by-product of the Unicode encoding used in the file, just as the previous 2 GB limit was the result of limitations to the ANSI encoding such files used before. But all this ignores actual mailbox limitations brought into play by Exchange 03. The default maximum size for an Exchange 03 mailbox is 2 GB - imposed by Microsoft. You CAN override this by manually editing the value using the ADSIEdit console, but before doing so I suggest first exploring the reasoning behind the 2 GB limit - there's a great deal of sense in that limit.
2) I'd dearly LOVE to know how you managed to sync a 10 GB mailbox onto an 8 GB Nokia! Perhaps Nokia's discovered a new compression algorhythm that the rest of the world doesn't know about!
3) After you read through various MSDN articles on the 2 GB mailbox limit, and several other dealing with the suggested maximum number of items in each mailbox folder, kindly explain how you managed to sync a 10 GB mailbox over the air, given the number of forcefully dropped connections Exchange would do on a mailbox containing 60 000 mail items.
4) On MY x7510 My Docs lives on the 16 GB flash memory. It is a simple adjustment to make and an oversight on your vendor's part for not making it default. Still, with XP or Vista a default setup will not meet your needs, so why do you expect WM at default values to be perfect for YOUR needs?
5) I've never been described as a corporate HTC/Microsoft Active Sync/Jet Database/etc. figure. Actually I work for myself, although on occassion I employ sub-contractors. I do support as well as software development, integrating Exchange, Active Directory and 3rd party SQL databases, so I've learned a fair old bit about Exchange's insides. Please don't view me as advocate for corporateland, because I'm not.
I understand you're frustrated, mate, but I did not cause your frustrations, so please don't vent it on me. Nobody here dislikes you, and we'd all like you to stay. It is just that I (and I suspect a few others) disagree with your points of view. I happen to love my x7510, far more after Cmonex weaved her magic and got us all to the point where we can unlock our devices and flash newer/better ROMs to it. My device does EXACTLY what I need from it, so in several ways I'm very fortunate.
Then again, my needs were very clearly defined before I got the x7510. I need a hardware keyboard and a large screen capable of at least VGA as I do a lot of support via remote desktop. I like the on-board GPS (although it isn't essential to me) and I'm currently working on a method to allow some of my clients to view (at my discretion) where I am when I'm out and about for them.
I have no less than four Exchange installations at my office, but they're all lab networks, mimicking client setups. For my own mail I use Live mail from Microsoft because it is simple, easy and just works.
Please consider what I'm saying here: I believe your friend is trying to work dangerously far outside of accepted good practise. You can criticise me for saying that, but you cannot alter the facts.
If he was my client I'd get him an Acer Aspire One, or the new Asus Eee PC with Bluetooth, and a 3G USB connection. I'd then set the laptop up as essentially a thin client and have him log on to a machine at his office using remote desktop.
The Aspire One is a nice little toy with a far larger screen than any WM device, and is hugely cheaper than the HTC Shift. It would give him all the functionality he seems to be after, without risking any data falling in the wrong hands.

Agree but disagree.
OK, I must admit this user is pushing the boundaries of the meaning if the word "mobility" but if you are going to sell a product that synchronises with Exchange, surely that means all possibilities for Exchange (or a pst for that matter).
It's like buying a car and finding out that it runs for 50 miles and then stops, which is what happens with the Advantage - it says it has synchronised but hasn't, no errors, failures, nothing.
By the way, it seems it is not a limit on the size of the mailbox but the number of items per folder. I have split his years into months in the inbox/sent folders and I am on 2004 already.
Takes a long time for the initial sync, but once it does it, every subsequent sync flies through, even over GPRS as the looking for changes happens pretty much straight away, it's the processing of the emails which takes the time.
I was joking about leaving the XDA forum - at the end of the day it is not HTC but Windows mobile that is at fault and I have had several HTC's, started with a Blue Angel I upgraded to WM 6.
Thanks for taking the time.
Adrian.

Found this elsewhere here on XDA-Devs: http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdachooser
Your friend might have some benefit from using that.

losdelrock said:
OK, I must admit this user is pushing the boundaries of the meaning if the word "mobility" but if you are going to sell a product that synchronises with Exchange, surely that means all possibilities for Exchange (or a pst for that matter).
It's like buying a car and finding out that it runs for 50 miles and then stops, which is what happens with the Advantage - it says it has synchronised but hasn't, no errors, failures, nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I need to disagree there as well: Not all cars are made equal, either.
It seems to me that you're after a car with the looks of a Lamborghini Diablo, F1 racing performance and handling, space for 8 people and a dog, capable of being driven across the Sahara desert and through the Amazon jungle all with the comfort of a large BMW saloon, all while using only a teaspoon of fuel.
Be a pretty excellent vehicle if it actually existed, but we both know it doesn't, and never will. Now does this mean we should start criticising all car manufacturers, or simply accept some trade-offs when selecting our perfect car?

Dear NanoRuler ,
U rocks , i truly respect you because i have seen many people that are extremely difficult to satisfy yet unable to accept that he or she is difficult to be satisfied . I support u , NanoRuler rules

I prefer the Lamborghini Countach LP500s actually.
Hmm, just did a google on HTC X7510 R.R.P. and this came up:
http://www.cnet.com.au/mobilephones/phones/0,239025953,339285985,00.htm
And so, for that price, or anywhere near what we paid for it, my orginal post on this thread was correct.
A laptop is cheaper and better.
Q.E.D.
Adrian "Lamborgini Countach LP500s" N****
(Surname blanked as I don't want some wierdo turning up at my doorstep with an LP500s and an HTC X7510 attached who has succesfully synced a 60GB Exchange mailbox)
Adendum:
HTC working as well as can be expected, with 1 years emails on it.

losdelrock said:
A laptop is cheaper and better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Laptop and communicator/(mobile computer) - noncomparable models, IMHO... Different sizes, different options...

Why complain
Why did you file a complaint? Lets face it Windows is unstable from the very start. They spent millions developing Vista but nobody wants to use it. If you want something stable, switch to an iphone with an Apple computer.

chiphone still working....

Just to let all those interested know - 6 months ago I was whined at for mentioning a £80 phone that did all that I needed my Windows Mobile phone for at a fifth the price...
All were convinced it would die after 6 months - oooh look - its still working. And its probably made in the same factory as the one you are looking at that would cost £500... maybe even at Foxconn which even under German Luftwaffe rules would collectively qualify as an air ace with 13 'kills' so far of its own employees through either suicide or suspected beatings or exhaustion (all other WW1 air forces only required 5 kills, hence the boast that the German AF was twice as good..).
Sadly since there are no phones available at the moment that fit what I need from a phone in the WinMo arena I will either be buying the S4200 QWERTY flip with wifi & TV - or reinvesting in the joys of symbian with the Vivaz Pro - the best phone I ever had is still going strong - an E70 from Nokia thats 6 years old now and still lasts three days on standby. Sadly its getting a little slow in the tooth...
The only niggle I have with the TVG3 is the camera quality and also there is no one place to control data/wifi selection. Other than that its perfectly usable.
Since I had to look for JAVA applications as there are no developers for the MTK O/S system as used in both the TVG3 & the S4200 I have found a couple that are useful and may be of some interest to people here...
Firstly Snaptu - which is a java based app which works with touchscreens and can provide either apps or links to websites along with RSS newsreader feeds and a eminantly usable weather application including of all things astronomical information. This includes a very usable facebook application.
There is also a application called microcalc which is a spreadsheet which is able to accept data from excel using the *.slk extension (SYLK - symbolic link)- although to be fair this is not a complete conversion.

Notes Mobile update

Hi folks
At the moment to me Notes Mobile does the job but only just.
I can tell you that Notesmobile is being developed. I am in possession of Beta 1.1.9 at the moment.
Please don't ask for a copy of it as it is one of the conditions of me having it.
It's a pretty raw beta , so no pen thickness or colour changing or anything.
Major things that I've noted:
1. There is finally a PEN ONLY palm rejection setting that works a treat.
2. The OCR both automatic and freehand conversion seems to be more accurate and quicker
3. You can import a picture , move it and resize it
4. New lasoo system that works a bit better and a few interface tweaks.
5. On the first page you can set up views, so you can further catagorise your notebooks ( So a Personal view with multiple notebooks, a Work related view with multiple notebooks ).
Things it doesn't fix address that I know are on some peoples wishlists:
1. More export options ( still only text and img )
2. Landscape mode
Don't forget though it is a Beta !!
So a heads up that it is being developed and it is certainly a step ahead of the original release.
They expect to release at CES Las Vegas in January, so it shouldn't be far from coming to us though whether it will be a free or paid upgrade I'm not sure but I've asked my contact though it might not be his area within the business.

Thanks a lot. Is there any way for custom backgrounds, or is that not present yet? Also, when you say release in January, they're going to present the new software of Notesmobile at CES? Never really seen new software at CES but yeah, that still sounds awesome. But yeah, I have to ask, are you involved somewhat with the development or do you just have contacts with one of the persons that's working there?

As I say it's a very raw beta.
1. No custom background, only blank, lined, graph and yellow lined a per the previous version.
2. Yes they intend to launch @ CES January 10th 2012 Las Vegas
3. Nope not involved with the Vision Objects at all. I contacted the guys a while ago around Myscript Stylus and as a consequence got chatting with them. They offered me the beta to get my feedback

Nice to hear that it's still being developed. The whole lack of cummunication felt like they've abandoned this app which really has a lot of potential but is right now quite useless for me.
Let's hope they'll add some more export options until January and also a possibility to back everything up.

This application has the raw goods and with a few [meaningful] tweaks and additional features I could become a daily user...

Thanks for the information on the update. I emailed them about wanting a pen-only mode and they simply responded with a cryptic "thanks for your interest we are constantly working to improve our software" reply that contained no valuable information. I am so glad to hear that they are in fact working on it and have implemented a pen-only mode. Hopefully MyScript Stylus will also get pen-only mode in a future update.

With CES just around the corner, I'll be see what the update is on the update .....
I'll let you all know

Any update to this?
TS

yeah
It was on the market
you couldn't download it
it was taken down
It is now on the market again
you still can't download it
it has not been taken down

sign in and check My Apps...Updates Available. you should be able to down load it from there. If not, you will need to install the new lenovo market then check My Apps...Updates Available. Its posted on the lenovo forum

Got it and the difference is like night and day.! Awesome!
---------- Post added at 10:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------
Quill is still better tho. still overly complicated writing notes in it.

It doesn't have OCR, but I've been hunting for a few days, and I'm most impressed with FreeNote. It doesn't seem to pick up on my hand on the screen, ever. It uses tags, classifications/categories for organization. It's definitely not a candied Apple app, so it takes some getting used to (it's intuitive enough but not artificially prettied, nothing hides its complexity, tongue is misspelled, and classifications=categories, more or less). It does some truly amazing stuff. I expect it to sell (out) in about March or April, but I'm just some schmuck user, so....
I'm happy to see that Phatware is in the Android game now. I used WritePad on WinMo3-6, but it looks by the reviews like they're having a terrible time. They'll weather it and raise the bar, I'm sure, and when I'm fed up with XT9, I'll likely buy WritePad if it gets even a few good reviews. They deserve a few snacks for PhatPad. I *still* use it on my HTC Advantage sometimes (animated gifs I draw, easy export, and the 5" screen is perfect for quick notes & doodling).
The XT9 handwriting input is pretty amazing (my handwriting sucks, really). I can't figure out why the Notes Mobile App is so bad at recognizing my same awful handwriting. Very eager to see what happens. The inline OCR is what I've been watching for for, like, 10 years.

There is a note app that I have been using called Lecture Notes... works a lot better than Notes mobile. Developed directly on the Lenovo Thinkpad tablet. It is still really new but he updates the thing about three times a week it seems like.
when using it you can disable the touch interface all together so the palm isn't an issue. There is a trial version on the market.

Still the best app for me
For business I'm using a Lenovo Windows 'tablet' with MS Notes. Honestly, that spoilled me. Comming now to Android seems to step back years in history and development. Never the less, I arranged myself with Notes Mobile and Evernotes. The only big issue I have with notes mobile is the unavailable option to export whole notebooks as pdf or pictures.
Why I think Notes mobile is the best compromise:
- The Lasso (u write something and u realise u need more space, the lasso helps! All the other programs require the eraser and to do all the work again...)
- handwriting recognition, that can be easily combined with sketches and quick note...
Only issue
- pdf export

A work around for no PDF export
I installed Cloud Print on my Android device
I installed EStrongs File Explorer (or you could use the native Dropbox client or Dropsync) on my Android device
I set up a Dropbox account with installation on my PC
I installed Bullzip on my Windows PC
I set Bullzip to automatically save "prints" to a Dropbox folder
Anything you can share via Cloud Print (most things) you can print to a PDF.
It's a traffic-heavy way to do it, so it's ungreen, and could be pricey if you're using a paid & limited data plan.
(I discovered this while testing. If anyone can help me get my Epson RX595 to work with Cloud Print app for Android, obviously Bullzip is fine, as are test pages via Cloud Print from Chrome on my pc, I'd be ever so grateful for a PM).

Could someone do me a huge favor and upload the latest version of the Notes Mobile app? I can't install the latest version of your app store to download it and it doesn't show up in the old version. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Feeling a little silly right now, but how do I get the updated version of Notesmobile?
V1.0.0 came with my TPT.
I created an account in Lenovo app shop, but didn't see anything in the "My apps" section. Tried searching for it in the app shop, but it's not showing up either.
Thanks in advance

best way to make tablet more productive ?

i have evernote so i can take notes in class, i have the calendar to schedule appointments but what else can i be using for a business solution ? or just productive in general. i have splashtop HD but how can i move files on my home computer to my tablet ?
what other things do you recommend to make this tablet do some work !

A little research on the forum wouldn't hurt. Have a look at the list of the apps for the Infinity we've been jointly creating.

they are all either for games or for general tablet use, i want specificially named apps that would make the tablet a workstation, or creative ways to use this, not just apps themselves. for example, people shouldnt wait for a 3g model, root your phone and wifi tether your already exsisting data plan.
so far the only office suit ive found for free is kingssuite office , and using BOX from this thread gives 50 free gb of cloud storage http://lifehacker.com/5887769/grab-50gb-of-free-storage-for-life-on-box-by-using-the-android-app other tips are welcome

If you root and own a keyboard dock, you might want to check out setting up a Debian or Ubuntu chroot. Think of it like desktop linux in an application, letting you run software like Libreoffice or Gimp. Since those applications are made for desktop computers and laptops instead of tablets, they're a lot more flexible.
I've got a Debian chroot set up and its pretty sweet. Apps are a little slow to launch, but once they're up they act pretty fast. I'd write a tutorial, but I"m having trouble getting it to cleanly shut down. If you're not afraid to do a little googling, you should be able to set one up for yourself without too much trouble.

Often wondered why I have a tablet
Probably an ages old question...
I know the main reason is because I am a gadgeteer.
I do use the tab for navigation and other home user stuff.
Seeing more and more ipads and android phones used by small business owners.
A coffee hut near us is using a tablet as an order slate and a cash register.
The last time we dined at Chevy's grill they have tabs on the tables for gaming, texting, ordering drinks and cashing out.
As far as personal use for this owner I'm still looking for an application that will make the tab an indispensable item.
Maybe some day a tablet device will help an old-timer like me organize his thoughts :highfive:

Crizthakidd said:
i have evernote so i can take notes in class, i have the calendar to schedule appointments but what else can i be using for a business solution ? or just productive in general. i have splashtop HD but how can i move files on my home computer to my tablet ?
what other things do you recommend to make this tablet do some work !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to agree with everyone else. Google or search the forums. But I will play your game sir...
Airdroid - hands down you have to download today, if you want to move files.
Splashtop is alright, I also like 2X Client
EverNote = yes
Box.net + Browser for Skydrive + Dropbox + Google Drive
Google Chrome
Pocket - read websites at a later time

Team viewer has been the best remote software on my prime and Infinity for work. Much better than splash top, Log me in, etc all have issues where teamviewer has always been super smooth and consistent. Use it from my phone too.

Why I got a tablet
I admit I'm a bit of a gadget junkie, but I got mine for work as much as home. I'm a teacher of sorts. For a couple years now, I've been floating the idea of getting tablets for the instructors, rather than having multiple binders and notebooks (the analog kind) cluttering up a desk or podium.
I've taken all the PowerPoint slides I use for work, typed all the hand-written notes I had in multiple binders into the Notes Page view of PP, and I view them on my Infinity while I teach. I use EZ pdf to view them. While there are multiple apps that view .pdf files -- like Polaris Office, which comes with the Infinity -- EZ pdf allows me to write on them, using my finger or a stylus.
In addition, I've got my work schedule (multiple schedules, actually) in separate Google calendars, and I view them on Business Calendar or Calendar Pad. I keep a ton of notes in OneNote, though I'm thinking of going back to Evernote.
I've got a bunch of reference material and research articles in .pdf format, and I've bought the Kindle versions of several books that we reference. You can't beat having an entire bookcase in the palm of your hand.

Crizthakidd said:
i have evernote so i can take notes in class, i have the calendar to schedule appointments but what else can i be using for a business solution ? or just productive in general. i have splashtop HD but how can i move files on my home computer to my tablet ?
what other things do you recommend to make this tablet do some work !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use google drive (or dropbox) to save your files too, no need to connect to your desktop.
edit: does polaris allow you to show powerpoints through hdmi but show any powerpoint slide notes on the tablet at the same time?

Suggestion for secondary mobile: BB 9360?

Hi.
I am using a Dell Streak 5 as primary mobile. Android 2.3.4. I am using is for productive things. Appointments, Contacts, phone, SMS, wikipedia offline.
But it does not have a contract including data and I won't change that.
I am using WLAN for connecting to Internet. I have that practically in all my places.
Now I am in need of a secondary phone.
Useage:
Surfing, sometimes Phoning, Contacts, calendar. Perhaps as spare for the Streak 5. Call Recording.
Important if using as spare: good speach quality. Unfortunately the Streak is not that good in that discipline.
I thought of a used BB 9360, used for 120€.
Could you tell me if that fits me? Currently I am more in the Android world and I like the ability to modify everything.
I'd like to have a real keyboard and I'd like to have something new. Like a Blackberry which would be new to me.
Could you give me some advice?
It should be available in large quantities on the used devices market and below 150€.
If I decide for the 9360 I am yet missing a very handy function: Call Recording. It is available for practically all Android devices and three newer Blackberrys but not for the 9360.

nobody?