Category — Pocket PC

The 1&1 Exchange server has been down for over 24hrs now. I wish I realized it before I reflashed my AT&T TIlt with a new rom as I can’t restore my PIM database and contacts. I guess next time I am gonna delve into dashwire and have another way of restoring my contacts whenever this happens. I am sure it will happen again. I contacted 1&1 support about this issue and they told me the following:

“Below is the work around if you are using a desktop
with windows OS.

1. In the command line of your desktop, please run
this command
ipconfig /flushdns
also make sure you have administrative right to
that PC. Also,
temporarily deactivate spyware.
2. then add the 74.208.4.72 exchange.1and1.com
to the host
file.
You can locate the file thru the example below.
eg. C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc then look for the hosts file

Open the host file using a notepad and then add the line

74.208.4.72 exchange.1and1.com“

Now I was unable to try this option because its really for Microsoft Outlook users and I don’t use Microsoft Outlook on my computer to sync with Exchange I only use it on my Pocket PC. Will be good to know it this trick works for some people. Hopefully the server will be back soon.

I thought 1&1 was much more reliable than this.

UPDATE: The server apparently came back online on Sunday around later afternoon. Well, at least it came back.

Over at XDA Developers a lot of discussions have been on going about the missing video drivers for quite a few HTC devices and specifically the HTC Tytn II/Kaiser/Tilt which I also use. The video,2D,3D and the camera performance on this device is very crippled and disappointing. This is one of the best devices HTC has come out with so far and it will be perfect once this issue is resolved. For more info please join the on going discussion at XDA. Also visit HTCClassAction.org for detailed info about this issue and the on going updates recived from HTC.

So far it seems that HTC is supposedly doing something about this issue finally, considering all the media attention its been receiving since Chainfire started the HTCClassAction.org site. But there hasn’t been any official response yet. Hopefully a solution will come forward soon.

Lifehacker Gina Trapani has a very nice write up of Practicing Simplified GTD which is something I am currently in the process of implementing myself. It’s very detailed but not long enough to be boring. The article is to the point and basically offers a simplified version of David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” productivity bible. It tells you to make three lists which include a To-do List, Projects list and a Someday/Maybe list. If you need help creating the perfect to-do list here is an article to help you do just that. It also points out that you need to perform daily and weekly revisions to keep everything updated and productive. It also has tip on how to organize you email inbox and here you take advantage of Gina’s three folder “Trusted Trio” system. In the end as you keep practicing these techniques or any other ones at that you will eventually develop your own customized version of GTD that suits your needs.

I am personally applying the above mentioned GTD system to increase my productivity and so far it has been working great.

On another note over at Keener Living you can download an ebook based on the website articles themselves which help you use technology to your advantage when organizing your lifestyle.

Pocketnow.com points to a little configuration hack for better playback of YouTube and Google Videos on your Tytn II’s/Kaiser/Tilt. As with default settings the videos will play for a few seconds and then stop for buffering obviously making them choppy and appear like pretty much crap. AllShawdow.com posters came up with these steps to enhance playback for these types of videos which are for TCPMP:

“1. From the main video screen press Options > Buffering > and double the number in the Normal Buffer Size field. Press Ok.

I performed the above settings and videos just take a few seconds to buffer when you first play, but do not stop intermittently to buffer in between, which is a vast improvement on how videos played before.”

Engadget has come upon some new info with screen shots regarding Windows Mobile 7. It seems to feature new ways of interaction with touch screen devices for example multi touch recognition which would be similar to Apple. Some rotating and shaking action and some sort of camera gesture implementation. It appears too good to be true though. But then again Microsoft has thrived upon marketing itself hence the success over the years. Will this come to reality ? is a very big question on everyones mind but even if half of what is expected from what can be seen from these pictures is implemented then Windows Mobile would be much more closer to perfection (If there is such a thing when it comes to windows. HAHAHAHA!!!!)

I recently came across this cool new site called PhoneFavs which is basically a mobile version of del.icio.us. Maybe not as powerful but still really nice. Its mobile friendly as you can see and fits right in your mobile browser window without the need for scrolling back and forth. A nice way of organizing all the mobile sites you visit globally hence when you get a new phone you don’t need to worry about backing up your bookmarks.

Note: Operamini  also has a similar option which lets you synchronize with their Opera Link bookmarking feature which is free and easy to use as you can just bookmark any website you are browsing on your phone and it automatically syncs with opera link.

I originally came across this through Pocketpcthoughts.com mentioned by Paul Martin that you can easily configure your Windows Mobile 6 device into a Wifi Router hence using your carrier’s internet wireless connection from lets say your laptop. The updated thread is here of course from XDA Developers with complete instructions on how to accomplish this. The “cab” file to enable this can be directly downloaded from the creator Jongma’s site. Looks like a really great piece of software to make your windows mobile device even more lovelier than it already is. Harnessing the power of technology always brings me joy.

My current favorite HTC Tytn II/Kaiser/Tilt rom cook Duttythroy’s new rom is out on the XDA Developers forum. I just flashed my Tilt with it and it seems to be going smoothly. I will be posting more about this in a few hours.

UPDATE:  Well I have been using this new rom for the past 24 hours and its been working great. Haven’t had any problems so far.

New version of eWallet 6.0 is on the loose. New updates include better security and over the air synchronization with sftp to your desktop for instance which is a very nice feature. It also comes with web access of your info for easy viewing from different devices.