February 2004 - Posts

• How to fix your dead watch - take it apart

  Anybody actually following my SPOT adventures (all of the 3 people) may have noticed that I have been neglecting my journal here for a while. Never fear, I am still a big SPOT fan, and even have lots to share from the last few weeks. About three weeks ago, my original Abacus watch died. I didn't even notice a large static shock - I was just taking off a shirt. Oh well, I thought I would just have to reboot it, as usual. I was wrong. I spent days pushing and holding all sorts of button combinations. I held the buttons until my fingers had little imprints of them. I left the watch on the charger overnight. I pushed the buttons while on the charger. No luck. It looked like this time I would finally have to give in, and send it to Fossil for repair. Mind you, I had posted that I would do that about two weeks before the incident, but despite the annoying resets, I just couldn't bring myself to part with my only watch - I was too hooked on it. After about 5 days without the watch, I was ready to box it all up and take it to the post office, when I realized something. While pt had posted pictures of the guts of a Suunto N3, I hadn't seen the inside of a Fossil watch yet. So I decided to take it apart just for fun. I put together a handy picture reference to the inner workings of an Abacus watch. A couple of interesting things. First of all, a little plastic section that clearly says "Citizen" proves that Fossil's watches are, in fact, manufactured by Citizen. And while there isn't much else to see inside, the battery type and OEM information are informative. The battery also has a nice little plug connector, similar to many motherboard connections. And that's when an idea struck me: why not disconnect the battery and thus perform a really "hard" reset. So I unplugged it, plugged it back in - and the watch came back on! Apparently it needed a full reset, which is what yanking the battery did. I put it back together, and it has been working fine. I had another static incident when it died and wouldn't turn back on, and yanking the battery again solved the problem. Of course, I am sure this voids your already short Fossil warranty, and you could permanently damage your watch, so don't try it just for fun. But if you have a completely dead watch, and don't feel like sending it in, it's something to try. After the 5 days of being SPOTless, I was really happy to see the watch face come back on. After another 10 minutes the watch locked onto a signal and started downloading content. So far it's been faring rather well, too. Posted Feb 27 2004, 11:03 PM by peter with 2 comment(s) Filed under: SPOT Watches

• An initial look at the Suunto N3

  Thanks to some very friendly folks in Redmond, I have been sporting a brand new Suunto N3 for the last couple of days. This is the one watch that is definitely different from all the other Fossil models. It definitely has both pros and cons compared to the other watches, and I'll get into that soon. For now, here are the first two parts of a picture review - the out of the box experience, and the watch itself as well as compared to the Fossil Round. Since the N3 has completely different screens in some places, I will add sections that show off those as well. Posted Feb 27 2004, 10:42 PM by peter with no comments Filed under: SPOT Watches

• A quick look at ink in InfoPath

  And this is what it looks like. I just started writing over the Name field, InfoPath popped up the little overlay area, and I am inking my data for the field. When done, the text will be recognized, and it will look like I just typed it into the textbox. Note the Ink toolbar, which pops up automatically on my Tablet PC and InfoPath even notifies me that I can now use ink to fill out the form. You can change pen settings, insert a drawing object into a field, or turn inking off completely. Posted Feb 27 2004, 01:21 PM by peter with 6 comment(s)

• InfoPath 2003 SP 1 Preview - run, don't walk, to get it!

  All I can say is Wow! Sure, the latest preview of Service Pack 1 for InfoPath 2003 has all sort of nifty improvements, especially for developers, who will appreciate the changes. However, it also has one "simple" feature that blows the mind: an elegant way to fill forms using ink on a Tablet PC. InfoPath automatically senses that it's running on a tablet (nice touch) and turns on "Ink Entry Mode". The form still looks the same, with "textbox" fields, but you can now write on top of them, into a little overlay area that expands to accommodate your writing, and it then gets converted into text. It doesn't even need the TIP. Fields can also store ink directly, if that's how they were designed, which lets you store diagrams and signature. Completely amazing. Hands down one of the coolest Microsoft ink-enabled applications now. If only the rest of Office 2003 would catch up already. So don't just hang around here, go get the preview! Posted Feb 27 2004, 10:01 AM by peter with 4 comment(s)

• Intel always thinks up the coolest toys

  Apart from Dothan, Alviso, Sonoma, high-definition audio, a/b/g Wi-Fi, and the rest of the goodies that will make up Centrino 2 later this year, Intel also provided a guide to its vision of the mobile platform at last week's Intel Developer Forum. One of the major elements in its vision is "Extended Mobile Access" or EMA - instant-on, closed-lid, network-connected access to things like caldendar appointments, e-mail, music, and so forth. It's very similar to the LID module on Vulcan's FlipStart mini-PC, recently previewed at DEMO 2004. HP tried to do something similar (although much more rudimentary) with the QuickLook utility available on their Tablet PCs. "To demonstrate 2005 mobile platform concepts, Intel has developed three concept mobile PCs, code-named "Florence." The 12-inch model features EMA functionality and converts from a laptop to a tablet PC, allowing maximum flexibility to balance office and mobile demands. The 15.4-inch model is designed to enhance worker productivity with fingerprint and smartcard security, built-in array microphones and camera for collaboration, and EMA functionality. The 17-inch Mobile Entertainment PC allows users to communicate and be entertained around the home with a wide-screen display in a sleek, portable design; a wireless Bluetooth* keyboard; built-in voice-over-IP handset and remote control; integrated array microphones and camera; and Intel High Definition Audio for high-quality sound." I want all of it! 12" Tablet PC, EMA, fingerprint security, built-in camera, high-definition audio, and a wireless keyboard. Speaking of keyboards, I wonder why more tablet designs - epecially the slate models - don't aim for a Bluetooth keyboard. Makes sense to me, and it's more convenient than the Infrared versions. Interestingly enough, "Florence" was the name of an esoteric looking tablet-like hybrid prototype that Intel unveiled almost a year ago. I wonder if the current tablet version of Florence can trace its family ties back to that oddball design from last summer. Posted Feb 24 2004, 10:45 PM by peter with no comments

• powerOne calculator comes to the Tablet PC

  Last week saw the announcement that Infinity Softworks is now bundling a Windows version of its powerOne Personal+ calculator with ViewSonic's V1250 tablet. While it's not something revolutionary like xThink's products, it's still a useful tool, and it's nice to see another ISV getting a bundling deal. I used to have powerOne installed on my Palm PDAs many years ago, although I never used it much. What has me confused is that even the Tablet PC page has no screenshots of what the product looks like on Windows. Am I missing something? Posted Feb 24 2004, 10:26 PM by peter with no comments

• Upcoming OneNote webcasts

  As Lora notes, Microsoft is offering two webcasts about using OneNote: one tomorrow (February 25th) and one next month (March 8). What is interesting is that the first webcast is a joint effort with Toshiba, and it will combine telling you about OneNote with information about why Toshiba's portable PCs are a good solution. The webcast will also "provide you with a special Toshiba offer". Looks like this is another element of the very sweet OneNote deal that Toshiba and Microsoft have going on. Toshiba must really have some powerful friends on the inside. Posted Feb 24 2004, 09:46 PM by peter with no comments

• InfoPath 2003 SP1 Preview is now available

  Microsoft has released a preview version of a part of what will become SP1 for Office 2003 sometime around the middle of the year. A preview of the update to InfoPath 2003 is now available for download. Some of the improvements include support for digital signatures, direct exchange of forms through e-mail, Tablet PC enhancements including ink support in forms, and new developer features and links to Visual Studio .Net. It's interesting to note that InfoPath was one of the two applications that were scheduled to get a big overhaul in SP1. The other was reported to be OneNote, which was also slated to get some major new features. What those could be - or when some sort of beta update to OneNote will be available - is still unknown. But judging by the improvements in InfoPath, things are looking good. Posted Feb 24 2004, 09:38 PM by peter with no comments

• Tablet learning in pubs

  I love creative uses of Tablet PCs like this. Whitbread will use tablet-based e-learning across the UK, at hundreds of locations including pubs, restaurants, and hotels. Their staff will even cover topics like cellar management. Fancy stuff. Simulations, video sequences, puzzles, and other interactive modules make the learning process similar to video games, which most of the staff is already acquainted with. It seems like one of those natural "Duh!" ideas that should be popping up everywhere...but aren't. I wonder why. All I have to do is think about Loren's MathPractice to realize that Tablet PCs are such a natural tool for interactive digital training. Posted Feb 24 2004, 09:19 PM by peter with no comments

• Another text input method, version 2.0

  Exideas recently released version 2.0 of its oddball text entry tool - MessagEase - for Windows, including Tablet PCs. Their system is supposed to make text entry more efficient on slate tablets. The press release also states: "The onscreen QWERTY keyboard has impractically small keys and the handwriting recognition offered by Microsoft is neither fast nor accurate." I guess they really haven't played with Lonestar. And even though the TIP keyboard is resizeable anyway, after having worked with Lonestar, it's difficult to leave handwriting, when using the tablet in slate mode. But I guess more input choices are better overall anyway, even if it is only for some users. A two month free trial download is available. Posted Feb 24 2004, 09:07 PM by peter with 1 comment(s)

• Cleaning up your feeds

  Steve Gillmor writes about information overload in his RSS aggregator. He mentions one thing that I always run into: how do you prune the old items so news articles don't just keep accumulating? I currently use NewsGator and have an ongoing problem with cleaning out my Outlook RSS news folders. Sure, Outlook has its AutoArchive feature, but that becomes awkward to configure when dealing with multiple nested folders (any plans for an inheritance mechanism?). So how is everybody dealing with old news items? Is there some really simple an effective way I am missing? Posted Feb 24 2004, 08:51 PM by peter with 2 comment(s)

• Tab choices that I don't need

  Small complaint to the MSN Messenger team. If I am on a Tablet PC and I'm trying to send a message to somebody who can't accept ink, don't show me the "Handwrite" tab in MSN Messenger. Case in point - when you try to send a message to somebody's SPOT watch or mobile phone. Obviously, neither of those can accept ink messages, at least right now, so why do I sometimes default to the "Handwrite" tab, which I can't use anyway? Please make the client a bit more "smarter" in that area. Posted Feb 24 2004, 08:41 PM by peter with no comments

• Flipping the hinge

  Posted Feb 24 2004, 08:35 PM by peter with 2 comment(s)

• Pondering my community involvement attempts

  I was browsing around my local Best Buy today, and was relatively pleasantly surprised to see a trio of employees showing a Toshiba Portege 3500 to a potential customer. I didn't really want to hang around and eavesdrop on their conversation, although I did want to tell the guy to go to Circuit City and look at the newer M200 model instead. Best Buy still doesn't really carry any of the nicer new Tablet PCs, which is a shame. But the whole incident got me thinking. I still want to get involved in the local community and promote the Tablet PC somehow. In a way, I am secretly jealous of all the fun developers get to have these days, with numerous regional events, speaking opportunities, local meetings and so forth. I couldn't really fully participate in that world, because I'm not quite a current developer. But they do get to have a lot of fun. (Yes, there it is, out on the table. I am not some sort of interesting developer, who spends the whole day coding neat Tablet PC applications. Feel free to stop reading now.) There seems to be a lot less to do for us "lowly" computer enthusiasts. For example, Delaware doesn't even seem to have a PC users group (there is an anemic Mac one though - go figure). My dreams of putting together some sort of regional Tablet Users Group are probably too grandiose, and I really wouldn't know where to start. But I still would like to somehow show people what Tablet PCs are, what they can do for them, what sort of software is available, and so forth. But how? Go to whatever local groups that do exist and offer a presentation? With my aging, somewhat sluggish, and esoteric looking tablet that might give people the wrong idea (weird and slow)? And would I then be too full of myself for thinking I can even do a decent job presenting a whole platform to a group of strangers? I am not really a marketer or an accomplished public speaker. Should I just leave it to general advertising and Microsoft's PR teams to introduce the tablet to the public? Is this something I should still somehow strive for, or just forget it since the effort wouldn't be worth it anyway? Please chime in with any opinions. Suggestions from community leaders or anybody involved in a similar endeavor would be welcome too. Posted Feb 21 2004, 10:59 PM by peter with 2 comment(s)

• Longhorn hardware readiness - how is yours?

  CNET mentioned that Microsoft will outline the hardware specs needed to run Longhorn at WinHEC, which takes place in Seattle in May. Future directions of other product lines, including the Tablet PC, will also be discussed. Is my Tablet PC ready for Longhorn? That's a resounding "No!" Couldn't even try it. Or even fake it. At this point, whatever I get next has to be at least generally capable of running the new OS, no excuses. Speaking of, where are Tablet PCs with some decent GPU muscle? Toshiba was supposed to have some select models of the M200 with 128 MB of memory on the graphics card, but that hasn't materialized yet. And while we are constantly being bombarded with Centrino speeds, wireless connectivity, and battery life, I have to ask: "Where is the raw video power?" Posted Feb 20 2004, 04:07 PM by peter with 2 comment(s)