That’s right…
That is the way MSN for Mac is identifying itself.
Internet Explorer 6.0
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; PPC Mac OS X 10.2.6; Tasman 0.9; MSN 8.0; MSN Explorer 2.0; MSNbMSN; MSNmen-us; MSNc11)
MSN for OS X
I noticed MSN for OSX launched today…
The interface is very nice. I find it to be very similar to the Windows version and very easy to use. There are a few tweaks from the Windows version like the addition of a calendar button right at the top level. What’s missing though, are the deeper guided links within each content area. This is a nice bonus for the average user and I can’t quite figure out why MSN would choose to leave that stuff out. Photos is also suspiciously gone.
You can’t view the same page as a buddy, which I suspect is due to lack of “NetMeeting Light” that seems to be part of the MSN messenger client.
You can very easily deal with email and calendar events as well as contacts but for some reason (again) there is no sync and no import. You start from scratch…
Outside of a few additional quirks (trying to get Bejeweled to play was impossible) the service seems pretty solid overall.
Life is a circle
After considering what I had written this morning I have decided to once again give Entourage a good go. It seems it really does what I need and does it well. I can do multiple accounts, handle complex filters and schedules as well as working nicely with Applescript. I can also add or modify full contact info for people and sync that directly in my Palm. Since I acquired my Tungsten C, I have once again, become a robust Palm user and want to have as much ready to access from my handheld. It is fantastic to have docs (office) and email (with full contacts) ready to rock while walking around the office, or traveling about either locally or pretty much anywhere there is a wifi Access Point…
The main bummer I found last time I tried this was Entourage’s lack of integration with POPFile, a really great spam filter. For some reason, Entourage cannot handle the extra header info I prefer to use (vs. subject modification) in order to activate filters for spam and lists.
Instead I am using SpamSieve, which runs quietly and works in conjunction with Entourage. Unlike SpamFire, it does not pre-check mail, but rather reads the mail as it comes through and works it’s bayesian magic. You definitely have to train it to get things going, but that is not a problem as you can select hundreds of messages at once and say they are good or spam. After about 600, the stats are pretty reliable. Like all filters, you can tweak it as you go and the applescript used can easily be triggered with keyboard shortcuts.
When I first stated using OSX, I naturally migrated to Apple Mail. I found it had some issues in the 10.0 release and switched back to Entourage. Sometime after 10.1 I went back to Mail and was quite happy until the app I felt I was pushing it too much and discovered PowerMail. While I really like PM, it has become a pain to manage contacts within email and a second application. Yes you can sync, but that really does not work that well and only offers email address, not full contact management. While Now Contact is a great contact manager, it does not do email. Entourage has it all and the whole thing (all four core apps in fact) syncs to Palm. Of course I have known that all along, but have steered clear for some reason. I’m back…
The problems with Sync
Not sure exactly why keeping device information synchronized with a computer becomes so difficult but in my years of working with Palm devices it seems to present an issue when you stray from the built in apps. In fact, Palm’s answer to almost any issue you call tech support about is to disable third party conduits and then usually a hard reset. The hard reset erases everything from your device which requires a restore/rebuild of everything.
My current set-up is the Palm Tungsten C connecting to my Powerbook G4. My company uses Meeting Maker as the group-ware calendar and Meeting Maker offers a conduit to sync so you would think that all would be well… but it is not. It seems that my Palm can only receive information from Meeting Maker, but can not send things back reliably without causing the conduit manager to crash (predictably) unexpectedly.
You see duplicates happen. I don’t know what causes this to happen, it just does. I have tried erasing the dupes on my Palm and re-syncing with MM, sending info back up, but in every case, the conduit manager crashes. It seems to have a problem with the number of things that get duplicated (usually holidays, though repeating weekly meetings are an issue as well). If I delete things in MM, I can sync back to the Palm with no problem.
So what is my issue? As a mobile person, I’d like to use my Palm to initiate events as I should be able to. Those should be able to go back up to the computer and all should be dandy. Instead, I have the current info ONLY on my Palm which makes it look like I am potentially available in our work system which auto accepts meeting invitations if my schedule seems to allow it. I set this as a preference, btw to make things easier since the speed in which meetings tend to schedule is pretty brutal.
One final point on Syncing, unrelated to Meeting Maker. iSync needs a serious upgrade in my opinion. It takes FOREVER to sync contacts (I have over 1200) and even longer if you are daring enough to sync with iCal as well. I would say that adding iSync to my sync schedule adds about 10-15 MINUTES my computer has to sit and think about what data to move where. For me, it is no longer worth the pain and suffering. I like the Apple Address Book, but am beginning to migrate back to Now Contact, an App I have not used since 1996. Not sure why I stopped, maybe it was Palm Desktop… but it is very nice so far and syncs well with Palm. I can also use the recently released update to sync (in my case overwrite) my Apple Address Book, if and when I feel that needs to be updated.
Sony to release handheld game player
The living-room games leader turns its gaze to the portables market with the planned launch of the PSP, a handheld game player capable of 3D images.
Sony did not offer a projected price for the PSP, but said it plans to release the device late next year, with Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, promising it would be “the Walkman of the 21st century.”
[CNET News.com Personal Technology]
Sounds good… though it won’t be here until late 2004. The walkman of the 21st century? I believe that is called the iPod.
Verizon’s Bold Wi-Fi Push
The carrier activates 150 hotspots in NYC, part of a plan to bring wireless Internet access to its subscribers throughout the Big Apple and differentiate itself from cable broadband rivals. [internetnews.com: Top News]
Seems to only work for Verizon Online customers according to the Verizon Website, at least for now. I imagine they will want to open this up on a pay basis for others as well…
The New 20?
A good friend of mine commented that his father recently said that 30 was the new 20. I like that — especially since today I am 30… I’ll keep you posted!
New: MP3-to-AAC Converter
From Italy comes a drag-and-drop MP3-to-AAC converter that promises better quality than iTunes while freeing space for more tunes. [Macintouch]
Palm OS 6 Screenshots…
PalmInfocenter has some alleged screen shots of Palm OS 6 which is not due to appear in any devices until 2004. From the post on their discussion boards, it looks like a Virtual Graffiti area is coming as well as a smarter UI which includes faster access to deeper levels of info – at least in the contact card shown. Hope it’s real… looks good!
Car traps official when computer fails
I guess it was only a matter of time… though I think many people would have expected this from a Windows powered car first…
Security guards smashed their way into an official limousine with sledgehammers on Monday to rescue Thailand’s finance minister after the car’s computer failed. Suchart Jaovisidha and his driver were trapped inside the BMW limo for more than 10 minutes before guards broke a window. All doors and windows locked automatically when the computer crashed, and the air conditioning stopped, officials said.
“We could hardly breathe for over 10 minutes,” Suchart told reporters. “It took my guard a long time to realize that we really wanted the window smashed so that we could crawl out. It was a harrowing experience.”
Etch a Site as Easy as Pie
It’s one part napkin, two parts pad and one part white board… but all becomes live html! This is a very cool way to prototype…
Denim, a new sketching tool that allows entire websites to be designed as a series of rough drawings, is becoming a hit with designers. It’s also being used by open-source programmers to build better interfaces for Linux. [Wired News]
Apple vs Microsoft…
Apple executives took obvious glee last week in noting that the software centerpiece of the Microsoft conference, new graphics software that is scheduled to appear in “Longhorn,” Microsoft’s 2005 version of its Windows operating system, apes features that have been in Apple’s OS X operating system since 2001.
“You don’t have to look too far to see that this is almost a direct copy of Quartz,” said Philip W. Schiller, Apple’s vice president of marketing, referring to the Macintosh software that controls the computer’s display.
Microsoft executives declined to take the bait. “We only showed glimpses of the future of Longhorn,” said a Microsoft spokesman. “Wait until the fall when we’ll go into more detail at the Professional Developers Conference.”
kewl commercial
Got kids? [video] [Adam Curry’s Weblog]
Verizon Sets Pay Phone Wireless Net Access
Verizon Communications Inc. plans to offer wireless Internet access in busy sections of cities like New York by installing “WiFi” equipment in its pay phones, a top Verizon executive said Friday.
After delivering a speech at a wireless security conference in New York, Verizon’s vice chairman and president, Lawrence Babbio, was asked whether Verizon would consider turning its pay phones into WiFi “hot spots” that radiate Internet access for a few hundred feet, since the phones’ wiring can facilitate connections to the Internet.
Babbio responded by saying Verizon expects to announce such a plan shortly.
“All of our pay phone people have already told us” that the phones would make good wireless access points, Babbio said. “That will probably be the vehicle we use, probably in Manhattan.”
[via NYT]
So what’s next from PalmSource?
While not revealing too many specifics, Mr. Nagel did mention that the fruits of the acquisition of BE, Inc. and its talented group of engineers will soon be seen, specifically in the area of multimedia. He said that new technologies capable of displaying photo realistic images on 4″-5″ VGA screens will also have a major impact on handhelds, likely in the next 6-8 months. And eventually we’ll see “mini-tablets” — instant-on devices that do a few things, do them extremely well, and are simple to operate. People are absolutely moving away from complexity, according to Mr. Nagel.
TXT-411
The price for calling directory assistance on a cellphone is grossly inflated, but now it looks like AT&T Wireless subscribers will have the option to save a little money by getting phone numbers and address by text messages instead. AT&T Wireless charges $1.25 to call 411, but the fee will be just 50 cents to use TXT-411, as the service is called.
Read
[Gizmodo]
New iPod Dock coming?
We have had two different Taiwan contacts tell us that Apple is preparing what one source described as “an ultra-dock” for new design iPod. While specific features are not certain at this time, it is clear the new dock is headed toward production very soon.
What we are being told is that the new dock is intended to mate the iPod to a home stereo system, providing a variety of data management functions, multiple I/O connections, some intelligent music file management capability in the dock itself, and, according to one source, a wireless remote control handset. Both contacts spoke as though the product is a very near term item. However, we are digging deeper to locate the actual manufacturer, and to try and gather more specific information about features and release date.
4 Keys To Google’s Success
- Technology. Along with its innovative approach to page ranking, Google is a purpose-built hardware company, building all its own servers from components it buys directly for their manufacturers. According to Drummond, Google now operates the world’s largest distributed computer system.
- Business Model Innovation. By perfecting the nature of targeted ads, Google not only has created a highly effective revenue generator, it has produced what it hopes to be a better experience for its users. It is Google’s goal to make their targeted ads at least as relevant and useful to users as the search results themselves.
- Brand. According to Drummond, a European study recently determined Google to be the number one most recognized worldwide brand. Indeed, Google has become a verb (“I can’t wait to get home and Google him”) which poses real challenges to a company seeking to protect the strength of its mark.
- Focus On The User Experience. Product decisions at Google are driven by optimizing for the user experience first and for revenue second. The folks at Google firmly believe that the better the user experience, the more easily money will follow.
I believe that all of these are important factors in developing any great technology company. Powerful customer-focused technology with an eye towards making money — that’s pretty much the formula. Even brand, which can be prohibitively expensive to develop ahead of customer traction, will likely follow product leadership. Google’s success isn’t rocket science, it’s just good old fashion company building. Good for them for the discipline. It’s an excellent model to follow.[VentureBlog]
Coming Soon – You will want this
• It supports multiple networks. GoodLink runs today over Cingular Wireless’ Mobitex Network, but it’s designed to support multiple networks. Customers are already beta testing GoodLink on Palm devices, with voice and data, over GPRS networks. As faster wireless networks deploy—GPRS, 1X, Edge, UMTS—Good will port there.
• It supports standard devices. Today, GoodLink runs on multiple devices, including the RIM 950, RIM 957, and its own Good G100. And it will soon run on PalmOS devices as well. Device makers are currently designing PocketPC and PalmOS products for 2004 that support GPRS and 1X networks, and chipset makers are designing 802.11 chipsets for combo GPRS and 1X devices in 2005. Good’s design will easily port there.
Flexible E-Paper on Its Way
Inching closer to the dream of electronic newspapers and books, scientists have created an ultra-thin computer screen that can be bent, twisted and even rolled into a cylinder without losing its image quality. Its creators say it’s the first flexible computer screen of its kind. [Wired News]