Foleo -- the Next Palm Pilot

We may all be fussing over the fact that the name comes with a tag line, "Smartphone companion". Yes, as the name implies, it's a device that will complement a smartphone's productivity, but it can also function as a standalone device.

If I understand the device's details clearly, then it is being positioned for mobile workers. In my profession for example, not all needs the full weight of a notebook computer, in fact majority of physicians, both young and old, uses their notebooks only for a few tasks, such as: Presentations, Word document creation/editing, some Spreadsheet work and of course checking emails and surfing the net. Heck most of us does not even use an email client, but instead uses only the available famous web-based emails ( i.e. Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail).

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but all these can be done by the Foleo. Many of you might say, the notebook computer can do that and much more! That's my point, the "much more" is seldom utilized. I always make myself as an example. Considering that I'm more technology savy than other physicians. I have a yearold iBook, at first yeah, it was exciting to use a mac, but after a while, the hype fades out and is left only with some aesthetic reasons. Some of the reasons I like about the iBook is that it turns on almost instantly (although it's more of putting itself to sleep), now this feature I like very much, I don't have to wait for the thing to boot up, if I want to show someone something from within the notebook, we don't have to have coffee first before veiwing the document. Take note, one of the features offered by the Foleo. Then I use my iBook to lecture (of course, I get a lot of ooohs and ahhhs on my Keynote presentations, but all those begins after I bring out my iBook from the bag) but then again, I can always do that in Powerpoint right? And once in a while edit word and excel files, and browse the web and that's it.

How about the "much more" in my notebook? Well, I seldom (and it really means SELDOM) use it. iTunes? nope! I have iTunes on my Windows desktop PC (this is where I do most of the work), and I listen to my music when I'm out of the house on my iPod. Hmmm what else, movie editing -- desktop! Then there's the size and weight, every mobile professional knows that size and weight counts a lot. Plus the fact that one has to bring the power brick almost always. I guess that's about it.

So, if I'm someone who will not be using most of the "much more" on the notebook computers, then I would, by all means, get myself a Foleo, smartphone or not. Besides, with our country's "wireless broadband" speed yet to be desireable, I would rather look for a WiFi hotspot and do my computing there. And don't mention the charges. Paying 2T on my DSL at home then another 2T for mobile internet? Now that's another story hehehe

Increased Gmail Attachment Size

If you're the type of person who loves sending large files as attachments to your emails, and feels restricted by the usual 5MB limit, then fret no more, Gmail, Google's email service, has increased it's attachment size to, guess what, yes, 20MB!

I'm thinking that is one way Gmail is getting a step ahead of Yahoo! who is planning to go unlimited on it's email storage quota. Which is a way is upping up from what Google has at the moment which is an increasing storage capacity everyday (presently at around 2.8GB).

So what are you waiting for, sign up now! Gmail previously is only available on invitation only, but has since modified the sign-up process and anyone can now get their own Gmail account just by visiting Gmail.com

FREE WIFI AT ROBINSONS ERMITA...NOT!!!

It was one of those days that I get to go to Ermita these days, some of the few reasons are the traffic, no interesting place to go to and I'm not a Robinsons guy.

Anyways, I'm here because I don't have to go to and I still don't want to go home (come on, it's a friday!). I told myself that this will be the best time to try out the FREE Wireless Internet connection (WiFi) that Robinsons Malls are trying to use to entice shoppers.

I went to the TASTE BUDS, Robinsons version of the Food court. This is where the "FREE" WiFi is. I'm so excited, I can't wait to get online. I ordered a Strawberry shake and a clubhouse sandwich from San Francisco Coffee and fired up my notebook.

The first access point that was detected was that of AIRBORNE ACCESS, I'm pretty sure this wasn't it, so I asked the BARISTA and he pointed me to those things on the table that they use to advertise their products, a small paper is stuck to it with instructions on how to log on the "free" WiFi. Of course, I followed the instructions but I kept on getting rejected (I hate that feeling! Well, who does in the first place?).

I sent an SMS to the hotline on the paper, but up until I had finished typing this article, I am just getting the AIRBORNE ACCESS SSID. Goodluck to me :(

The Dreaded Globelines Broadband Erratic Connection is Here!

I have been reading quite some complaints about Globelines' erratic behavior, the way it will disconnect and re-connect after a few minutes of being logged-in. All the while I thought that this was area-related, since all the years I've been using Globelines broadband, I have never encountered the said incidence. But since a couple of days ago, whenever I use Yahoo! Messenger, I noticed that the line was acting differently, I know that get disconnected because, every time I get logged on into my Yahoo! Messenger SMS. This should only happen if I log off from YM, but in a single session, my phone keeps on getting the notice that I have been logged on into YM SMS.

Couple this with uTorrent as the download speed goes to zero every once in a while, then goes back up to it's normal speed after a few minutes. I also checked my modem/router's configuration page and much as I expected it, there are lots of errors and disconnections. I have emailed Globelines' customer support and I am still clueless as to what their explanation would be.

No more Ad-Aware on Google Pack

As I recently went back to Windows XP from Windows Vista, I one by one downloaded the applications "essential" for a Windows desktop to work, and one of these software is an Anti-spyware program. Before my short-lived migration to Vista, I was using Lavasoft's Ad-Aware, which was also part of Google Pack. On Windows Vista, I was using Microsoft's own Windows Defender. Now that I'm back to XP, I was surprised to see that Ad-Aware has been replaced in Google Pack with SpyDoctor.

As a standalone application, SpyDoctor is not free. But if you download it from Google Pack, one gets a starter edition, that almost has the same properties as the paid version. Maybe I'm going to try it out for a while, and if I'm not satisfied, I might try out, AVG's Free Anti-spyware program. Now, if you're going to ask why it seems that I have confidence on AVG's software, well, that's just for the fact that I am an avid AVG Free Anti-virus user (who isn't) and that I am very well satisfied with it's performance, never had a viral infection in my desktop ever since.

Back to Windows XP

I've reinstalled Windows XP the other day. My desktop was running Windows Vista for sometime, since Microsoft released Vista Beta to RC1 to RC2. But after the notice that all pre-release softwares will "expire" on May 18, I decided to revert back to XP. I am still contemplating on really "upgrading" to Vista, but not yet. Perhaps I will wait for a year to a year and a half before totally dumping Windows XP.

Can't Use Email on my New SE M600i

I got myself a spanking new Sony Ericsson M600i, a UIQ 3 device. Got almost everything up and running with a few exceptions.
- Email (can't get it to work with Gmail and my local ISP)
- Agile Messenger (can't log in to network)
- Gmail app (can't see the connection)

Other than these, it's working fine and wonderful. Only thing I'm missing from my old SE phone (K600) is the HID Bluetooth Remote.

Rumor: Dell to Buy Palm

Here's another rumor on the mill. Dell, after shelving it's PDA Axim line, is rumored to acquire Palm as it thinks that the future is toward smartphones.

New M600 firmware

All you SE M600i owners (including me of course), Sony Ericsson has updated the firmware and can be downloaded thru SE Update Service. It fixed some bugs and made the system a bit faster. Here are most of the changes seen:

• Faster
  
• WMA supoprt!
  
• Transitions option found in control panel, device. Default is OFF
  
• Updated build of opera which seems more stable
  
• Louder through speaker
  
• 20.8mb free ram

Sony Ericsson PC Suite 1.3.11 is out

Sony Ericsson has just updated their PC Suite for Smartphones and is now version 1.3.11

Treo 750 with Windows Mobile 5 (huh?)

Recently, Palm Singapore together with Microwarehouse the Philippine Palm distributor launched the Palm Treo 750 Windows Mobile 5 thru a sassy event at the Embassy bar at the Fort Taguig city. It was attended by the Philippine Palm Users Group (MaPalad) mostly, and at some point members of the Pinoy Windows Mobile and the Philippine Mac Users Group (PhilMUG). The place was jam packed with members and was overflowing with drinks.

Palm gave the Windows Mobile platform some tweaks to "Treo-rized" it. Comparing it with other Windows Mobile Smartphones, the Treo 750 can find a contact directly from it's Today screen as compared to others which will need at least 4 steps. Overall the Treo 750 is a very nice addition to the Treo line, but the problem that I see with it here in the Philippines is in the OS itself. Microsoft just launched Windows Mobile 6, a snazzy eye-candy OS that is comparable to Vista in the desktop arena. It's usually offered as an upgrade by Networks in the US or UK to it's subscriber, but locally, I have not heard of OS upgrades from our major networks Globe and Smart. Thus, if one buys the Treo 750 today, in less than a couple of months, that OS will be old and basically the phone too. Unless Palm would offer them upgrade packages which I highly doubt.

Blogging with Flock doesn't work!

Flock is a web browser from the innards of Mozilla that has some social networking thingies working inside it's gut. One of the features being boasted by Flock is the easy blogging of sites. No more cut and paste and memorizing those kilometer long URL's. I used Flock before, but that was before Google migrated my account to the "new" Blogger engine, now blogging with Flock simply does not work. When I set up my account, it just stays at the "just double checking if your account is set up correctly" uhm hellooooo, I'm blogging right now, so I guess it's working?

It's unfortunate that it doesn't work anymore, it's been really very easy and simple to blog thru Flock, but now I guess I have to go back to the old, blogger website or email blogger for my blogs.

The CRUMPLER Launch Part

Last night, computer accessories king of the Philippines Charlie Paw together is his brother Howard "Bogs" Paw launched their first CRUMPLER store in the country at the Fort. CRUMPLER is a brand of computer and camera bag accessory. Lots of people came with three of the most prestigious user's group in the country as the major attendees, MaPalad (Philippine Palm User's Group), PodCentral (iPod User's Group Philippines) and PhilMUG (Philippine Mac User's Group). Food and drinks were overflowing and games was so excitiing, prizes where of course CRUMPLER bags. Three of CRUMPLER founders where present including their mascot, PINEAPPLE JUJU.

Yahoo! Messenger for VISTA

Under development, this is one cool interface worthy of the shiny AERO interface of Windows Vista. You can sign up to be one of the first few to be notified when it's ready for download here.

Here are some of the supposed features:

Built from the ground up specifically for Microsoft Windows Vista, this all-new version combines the reliable and easy-to-use features you've always loved from Yahoo! Messenger with the cutting-edge experience of this new operating system.

• Instant message, voice, webcam video, and more
• Use the integrated Yahoo! Messenger Sidebar gadget to keep up with the friends that matter most
• Also add Windows Live™ Messenger friends to your contact list to see when they're online and IM them
• Keep conversations organized by dragging and dropping them into one tabbed window
• Brand new emoticons, program icons and alert sounds
• Instantly change the look and feel of your Yahoo! Messenger interface
• Automatic groups are created in your contact list based on your Yahoo! interests (i.e. Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football league)

Yahoo! Widgets 4.0

Yahoo! Widgets 4.0 is now ready for download at http://widgets.yahoo.com. With the following new features:

• Speedier than ever

  • We heard you, and we've made big improvements in performance
  • Uses up less of your system memory compared to past versions

• Live, at-a-glance view

  • Mini Widgets bring updates and live info to you in a compact package
  • Keep your widgets neatly organized with the new Widget Dock

• New Widgets by Yahoo!

  • Gallery Widget: Browse the Widget Gallery without opening a web browser
  • Flickr Widget: Hooray! Upload, tag, and display Flickr photos.

• And, some things are the same as ever...

  • The most Widgets available anywhere online... over 4,000 and still growing!
  • Works on both Macs and Windows PCs

The unreachable 2Mbps of Globelines

Today, someone from Globelines came over my place to act on the complaint regarding my unreachable subscribed speed. I am currently under their 2Mbps plan and for some time now (being the pessimist that I am), I patiently waited until that incident in Taiwan has totally been fixed. But then, I noticed that I don't reach even 50% of my supposed subscribed speed.

Anyways, this guy came over and tested my speed, and for sure I was only getting around 4xxkbps to a maximum of 9xxkbps from my supposed 2Mbps, that should be around 2xxxkbps. So he checked my modem configuration (a Globelines supplied PROLINK 9300G wireless modem/router) and just as I observed before, that my line was capped at 1.5Mbps down and 512kbps up. He called up their Network Operations Center (NOC) and asked to change my settings to 2Mbps up and 1Mbps down (now this thing baffled me, supposedly, in their system, I should be, by default under the 2Mbps up and 1Mbps down setting already, for more than 3 mos. to be exact, and they're just setting it now?). Restarted the modem, and checked if it will sync with their servers, which it did NOT! So my settings were brought back to the old 1.5Mbps up and 512kbps down, which as expected synced. Now this baffled the technician more and called up other numbers and talked to a couple more peeeps. He then gave up and told me that he'd just go back tomorrow to check on the speed and told me to monitor the speed.

After he left, I checked my speed and for around 30 minutes, I was hitting 1.5Mbps! Yehey! But that was short lived since there was a brief power failure and since that time, I am now getting (again) my old 3xxkbps to 8kbps speeds. Now I know that it's not my wiring here at home and that the problem is on their side. I am just hoping that they would figure it out fast. It's not that I am not getting fast speed, heck, I'm really ok with the speed that I'm getting at the moment. But I am paying for a 2Mbps speed and just like them when they demand immediate payment for their services, then I should demand the appropriate speed that I am paying for. It's just a GIVE AND TAKE relationship, I do my part and they do theirs.

Globe Handyphone's "Loyalty" Program?

Recently, Globe (Handyphone) launched a silent "Loyalty" "Rewards" Program as a form of retention for their customers. This is not an announced promo and a subscriber has to call Globe's Customer Hotline and "inquire" for the said program. So, being a long-time Globe subscriber, I called their hotline, but to my dismay, I was told that since I did not get any call from their "Retention Team" then most likely that I did not "qualify" for the "criteria" set for the promo.

I wonder what "criteria" Globe is talking about and it looks like they don't give a shit if subscribers will leave them and shift carriers. In fact, SMART offers loyalty rewards to their subscribers on a yearly basis, and the rewards seems to be as what it is, rewards. The phones that SMART is giving away are will really be appreciated by their subscribers. Let me think hmmmm I guess will prepare changing numbers.

ADVANCES IN BUS TICKETING IN THE PHILIPPINES

It's been quite sometime since I used public transport to go to places. I got to try it again today and what a surprise. The bus conductor gave me a ticket that came from a portable printer attached to a Palm Zire 22! Forgive me if I sound really surprised because I never have thought that our local bus companies would adapt such technology.

The NEW SonyEricsson Phones

Here it goes again, new phones from Sony Ericsson, tsk tsk, everytime SE launches new phones, I get excited.

The SE W610 and entry level Walkman phone , it's quad-band with EDGE, an RDS FM Radio, an LED light for your pictures, A2DP stereo Bluetooth audio, a 2 megapixel camera, and that full suite of music management software, ships with a 512MB M2 card.

The SE K550 entry level Cybershot phone, has a 2.0 megapixel cam and LED photo light and is thin at 14-mm form factor, uses the Memory Stick M2 form factor. It is a quad-band EDGE device.

The high end K810 Cybershot phone, a feature rich 17-mm thin baby with a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus and Xenon flash in it's heart. It has a second cam up front for video calls and goes UMTS 2100 and GSM 900/1800/1900. The K810 uses the same Memory Stick M2 that the K550 uses.

And there's the super thin Walkman phone, the SE W880, at 9.4-millimeters thin, it's SE's slimmest Walkman phone yet and packs a 1.8" QVGA 262k TFT display and 2 megapixel camera with a 1GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) card included in the box. It also comes pre-loaded with Walkman Player 2.0, Disc2Phone music management, and the TrackID music recognition applications. It also features a Flight Mode for use on the airplane and battery capable of up to 20-hours of music playback or up to 6 hours 30 mins of talk time. UMTS 2100 and GSM 900/1800/1900

So go ahead and drool people!!!!

UNLIMITED TEXTING AND AGING

With the advent of new technologies, it is imperative that society be able to adapt to these changes or suffer alienation. I am one of those people who tries and successfully cope up with this problem. But I guess, it will only be up to a certain point before things get out of hand.

A classic example is texting or internationally known as SMS. When this thing started, I had a Panasonic G-series phone (which doesn't have a caller ID that tells you the sender's name, just the number). I was using Globe Telecoms network (although I'm still using Globe up to now), and all one had to do was to pay the initial P200 fee and you're off to an unlimited texting spree, perhaps until one dies (that was then), and things change. A lot of promos and cellphones and cellphone technology after, we go to the present where everybody is complaining that Globe suddenly changed it's rules with regards to it's UNLIMITED texting promo. Well, it's hard to discuss about the repercussions of the change in the promo, but what I can say is, a lot of people has been enticed by the said add-on by these telecommunication companies, but for someone like me, a 32 year old father, this is not important anymore. I seldom text unless someone sends me one or it's really important to send a text message. Ever since these UNLIMITED texting promos, people now start to send and forward almost all spam or forwarded messages that they've received, unknowingly irritating those that receives them.

Perhaps there's a silver lining in the changing of the UNLIMITED texting scheme, and that is, less of those annoying, un-important SMSs. Happy texting everyone!