Archive for the ‘Smartphones’ Category
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Working from several different locations and different devices brings out the strengths and weaknesses of the various tools we use on a daily basis. Today I will touch on Microsoft Exchange, specifically Outlook Web Access (OWA) and how it compares to Android based smartphones.
In order to get the most from Microsoft Outlook Web Access, Internet Explorer needs to be used. Substituting other browsers such as Firefox disables certain functions. The benefit of using OWA is it eliminates the need to install Microsoft Outlook on the computer.
OWA looks very similar to Microsoft Outlook, but there is no Today page and some of the advanced viewing options such as seeing tasks on the calendar page are also not available. If you are not a fan of Microsoft’s new ribbon in Office 2010, then you will like Outlook Web Access. However if you do like the ribbon you are out of luck as it is not in OWA.
Advanced users of Microsoft Outlook will be disappointing that some of the drag and drop options will not work in Outlook Web Access. Viewing calendars of others is available if you have the appropriate permissions.
For the Android there are several options available to corporate users of Microsoft Exchange. Many phones such as the Motorola Droid X, Droid Pro and Droid 3 along with several from Samsung and HTC have built-in connectivity to Exchange. Depending on the phone and version of software, the calendar and email retention vary. While contacts synchronize with the Exchange contacts, notes and tasks do not.
There are several companies which offer an add-on for Android based smartphones; one program is TouchDown and another program is RoadSync. Both sync; calendar, contacts, email and tasks between an Exchange server and the Android smartphone. Each has its own limits and advantages.
TouchDown allows the creation of tasks from within an email which is a very useful tool used by those seeking the most efficiency. TouchDown also has uses categories from Outlook (Exchange) and the method to file emails is superior to RoadSync. A downfall of TouchDown is it is very easy for the system to not save notes in the calendar, tasks and contacts; which could be an issue for many. RoadSync works well, but lacks the categories and ability to create tasks from an email.
For power users, an Android based smartphone or tablet can be superior to Outlook Web Access, the one limiting factor is the lack of seeing calendars from others within the organization.
This article was written by The Boss of HITman Services, a computer and IT company, based in Clifton Park and serving the Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties of New York.
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Tags: Active Sync, ActiveSync, Android, Android Exchange Calendar, Android Exchange Email, Android Exchange Sync, Android Exchange Tasks, Calendar synchronization, DataViz RoadSync, Droid Pro, Exchange TouchDown, Google, Groupware, HTC Corporation, Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Sync, Motorola Droid X, Outlook Web Access, Outlook Web App
Posted in Business, Smartphones, Technology | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
Late last week I had a conversation with one of our clients regarding upgrading their smartphones. As they are on state contract, their options aren’t as broad as those who pay full price for new devices. Entities which can take advantage of the New York State Contract, are limited to getting phones which are technically one year old. While they are new phones, they are not the latest model of smartphones.
Currently the smartphones which are in use at our client’s are BlackBerrys. While they have served them well for the past year, I have recommended they move to the Android platform. BlackBerrys have been for the most part very reliable. However the advantage they once held with push technology is now gone as Microsoft’s Sync has caught up. Add to that the unlimited texting option offered by Verizon Wireless and that takes away any advantage the BlackBerry Messenger had.
While there are plenty of apps for the BlackBerry and companies continue to write for them; there is no denying the popularity of the Android operating system and its proliferation in the marketplace. Also a business or organization does not need to use a BlackBerry Internet Server and the associated licensing to get push email, calendars, contacts, etc.
The options available to our client are the Motorola Droid 2 and the Motorola Pro. Both are good choices for business use; the Droid 2 offering a larger screen with a slide-out keyboard in landscape mode; and the Droid Pro more the style of typical BlackBerry. While many people are able to type quickly using a virtual keyboard, in my opinion most people find it easier to use a physical keyboard for lengthy emails, notes, documents, etc. Plus if you use a lot of complex passwords, a physical keyboard is tough to beat.
This article was written by The Boss of HITman Services, a computer and IT company, based in Clifton Park and serving the Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties of New York.
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Tags: Android, Android (operating system), BlackBerry, BlackBerry PlayBook, Droid 2, Droid Pro, Droid2, Facebook, Motorola, Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid 2, Motorola Droid Pro, New York, Research In Motion, Smartphone, Verizon Wireless
Posted in BlackBerry, Business, Smartphones | No Comments »
Thursday, February 24th, 2011
According the the Code Research Consultancy, wireless use of data is expected to increase by forty times within the next four years. A company called LightSquared has developed technology to capitalize on this trend. Apparently though, this wireless technology for smartphones could cause major disruptions with GPS satellites.
According to an article which appears on FoxNews.com, the FCC is concerned that this technology could possibly disable GPS systems. The ramifications include disruption to the air traffic control system, the military’s ability to keep track of and deploy resources, and prevent local emergency services from correctly getting to the correct residence.
If our military is susceptible to such new technologies employed by a company to do good, what could be done by a country wishing to do us harm? Could someone with a smartphone take down an aircraft by simply accessing an app?
This article was written by The Boss of HITman Services, a computer and IT company, based in Clifton Park and serving the Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties of New York.
Tags: Air traffic control, Federal Communications Commission, Global Positioning System, GPS, GPS satellite, LightSquared, New York, Smart Phone, Smartphone, Smartphones, Technology, Wireless
Posted in Security, Smartphones | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
A while back I wrote about how I used the DataViz RoadSync to synchronize email, contacts, calendar entries and tasks from our hosted Microsoft Exchange server to my Android smartphone.
It was a big improvement over Touchdown and I suggested to some of my technicians that they may want to use RoadSync and one of the guys installed the trial version a couple of weeks ago. As it is expiring today, he attempted to purchase a full copy of RoadSync, but received a message indicating RoadSync is not compatible with his phone.
Talk about a glitch! He was running the trial version for two weeks, we share the same model phone, the Samsung Fascinate from the same carrier, Verizon Wireless and it is not compatible?
As Dataviz no longer accepts phone calls, I had to use their email form. Talk about horrible support and customer service! When I went to submit the information, their site crashed.
What is it about some software companies that they are afraid to talk to their customers? Part of our purchasing policy is to make sure any company we do business with has people we can talk with in the event of an issue. In the case of Dataviz, they did have a phone number but changed their policy and no longer have their phone answered by a person. Now unless you know a person’s name who works there, there is no getting through.
When I attempted to contact them via the RoadSync installed on my Fascinate, the program froze. So as of now, this is no longer on our list of recommended software.
This article was written by The Boss of HITman Services, a computer and IT company serving the Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties of New York.
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Tags: Android, BlackBerry, Dataviz, DataViz RoadSync, iPhone, Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange for Android, Microsoft Office, New York, Samsung Fascinate, Verizon Wireless
Posted in Smartphones, Software | No Comments »
Friday, January 21st, 2011
As a Microsoft Exchange hosting provider we are constantly looking for the best system to access our calendars, contacts and email on Android smartphones.
Having multiple Android devices we are in the fortunate position to try and use a variety of software programs. The built-in email app offers basic functionality but lacks the ability to transfer tasks.
We have been using Touch Down software for quite a while to connect to our Exchange Server. Touch Down offers many settings for customization. We were finding that ActiveSync was not working properly between Exchange and Android. Additionally when we ran side by side tests using Samsung Fascinates, there was a significant performance hit on the phone running Touch Down. Touch Down also created a second set of contacts which could get confusing.
Next up was RoadSync by Dataviz. Using RoadSync we have not seen a performance lag. To-date there have been no synchronization issues discovered. One feature lost using RoadSync is the ability to categorize tasks and calendar entries. Also some functions such as the privacy setting requires an additional step to engage.
At the current time RoadSync appears to be the best solution for connecting Android smartphones with a Microsoft Exchange Server.
This article was written by The Boss of HITman Services, a computer and IT company serving the Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties of New York.
Tags: ActiveSync, Android, Android Exchange Email, Dataviz, IPod Touch, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Exchange Server, Samsung Group, Smartphone, Touch Down
Posted in Business, Smartphones | No Comments »
Thursday, January 13th, 2011
It is amazing how many highly educated; professionals continue to use the standard email signature on their smartphones. Whether that is: sent from my iPhone, sent from my iPad, sent from my BlackBerry, sent from Windows Mobile or sent from my Android.
While I’m sure that it makes Apple, Google and RIM very happy that their products are being promoted for free; what is the benefit of letting people you do business with know you are using an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry?
Many organizations require some disclaimer on each email, yet fail to enforce the same requirement for mobile users. Considering that a majority of business professionals use smartphones to transact business, this is perplexing.
Each device has a signature setting which allows users to customize the signature line. The information can be either typed or pasted in. Depending on the device, it may be possible to use a web interface to enter the proper signature line.
If you don’t know where the setting is, and would like to use a custom signature, give us a call and we will help.
This article was written by The Boss of HITman Services, a computer and IT company serving the Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties of New York.
Tags: Android, Apple, BlackBerry, Google, iPad, iPhone, Research In Motion, Smartphone
Posted in BlackBerry, Business, Smartphones, cell phone | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
One of the area which I believe Android phones are lacking is in security, especially when compared against BlackBerry devices.
A few weeks ago I began researching options to enhance the security of my Samsung Fascinate Galaxy S phone. Several articles from well know and established magazines and Internet sites all had on their list a specific application, which I purchased and have been using for about ten days.
Yesterday I discovered a way to get around the security. Last night I thought I found another way to bypass the security and tested my theory this morning, and it was another security flaw.
I wrote the company last night and will wait a week to see if the company responds before releasing their name.
A major point to be taken from this is many magazines and review sites do perfunctory evaluations. In order to do a proper assessment, time must be spent. Not an hour or two, but a substantial amount over an extended period. It is the only way to do justice to the people who value their opinions.
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Tags: Android, Android Market, App Store, BlackBerry, Consultants, General and Freelance, Handhelds, iPhone, PC World (magazine), Samsung Fascinate, Samsung Galaxy S i500, Security, Smartphone
Posted in BlackBerry, Security, Smartphones, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, October 21st, 2010
Recently, one of the techs at HITman Services and I were talking about Apple’s iPhone versus Google’s Android phones. We were specifically discussing their architectures and how Android is open whereas Apple is closed.
Apple believes they know what is best for their users and dictates exactly how it will be. How each application will interact with the device, the user experience and what your home page will look like, the fact that you can’t change the battery for whatever reason. And, only apps purchased from the Apple iTunes store can be installed.
Android is a more open architecture and trusts users to a much greater degree. When installing an app, the system will tell you what the app will have access to and asks your permission before it is actually installed. You have the ability to get apps from other places than just the Android Market. If the battery dies, you can simply change it.
Like one political party, there is a group of elites which believes they know what is best. It really doesn’t matter what the people want, they will get what is offered and any attempts to hack or jail break the system will be dealt with.
On the other hand there is a party which believes that as a whole, when individuals are given the power, they will create much more success. While mistakes will be made, they will ultimately produce superior results as a result of their freedom.
So which camp are you in? Apple or Android?
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Tags: Android, Android Market, Apple, Handhelds, iPhone, Smartphones, Steve Jobs, User experience
Posted in Smartphones, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
One of the first things I noticed after using the Samsung Fascinate for a while was how quickly the battery was being consumed. In addition to the spare battery I purchased from the Verizon store in Clifton Park, NY, I decided to purchase another spare battery. This provided me with always having a fully charged battery available even on long days without needing to find an outlet.
The first Android app I loaded was Touchdown, which is a program that synchronizes Android phones with a Microsoft Exchange server. As our company uses Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, SharePoint and several other software programs from Microsoft, it was very important that the phone ties seamlessly in with our current system. Other apps loaded included an anti-virus program, Kindle for Android, Fox News and a system monitor. I also purchased a copy of LogMeIn Ignition.
On the second day of my of my trip I needed to add a new rule to my Outlook 2010 to assist with a security issue. I used LogMeIn Ignition to remote into my computer and while using an Android device to control a computer is certainly not as easy as using a mouse or track-pad, I was able to accomplish my task in a relatively short time.
The 3G reception was very spotty where we stayed, but I was always able to get to the Internet. The browsing experience on the Fascinate is very good, far superior to Windows Professional 6.51 or BlackBerrys and only lacking in its inability to view Flash (at least for the current moment).
There was one evening when two calls went directly to voicemail, this also happened to someone else in my party who was using an Apple iPhone 4 and I attribute this to an issue with reception. Making calls from the same location that evening went out properly.
I used the camera and video quite a bit and both performed flawlessly. The many camera settings added some very nice enhancements to the photos I took.
Part 3 to be released soon.
Tags: Android, BlackBerry, Clifton Park New York, iPhone, Microsoft, Samsung Fascinate, Samsung Group, Samsung i9000 Galaxy S, Verizon
Posted in Smartphones, cell phone | 2 Comments »
Friday, October 8th, 2010
For my summer retreat this year I was considering going minimalistic, sans notebook computer. As I was going to be away for eight days, it was important the device I would bring was up to the task. My smartphone days go back to when Palm dominated the industry, so I have a fair amount of experience when it comes to PDA’s and smartphones.
A couple of weeks before going I had concerns that the smartphone I was using at the time, a Samsung Omnia II, wouldn’t be sufficient if indeed I did not travel with a notebook. Thus my search for a new PDA started. As Mr. T (aka Mike) was also looking for a new phone, we hit the Verizon Wireless store together after lunch at Panera Bread in Clifton Park.
We focused on four phones, the HTC Incredible, the Samsung Fascinate, the Motorola Droid 2, and Motorola Droid X. We didn’t look at the BlackBerry Tour, Storm 2 or Palm Pre as I previously had those and Mr. T had a Storm.
While I like physical keyboards, I wasn’t thrilled with the one on the Droid 2, also when comparing the screen size to the Fascinate and Droid X, it was lacking. Mr. T was of the same opinion. The speed on the incredible was impressive, as was Swype, though with the smaller 3.7″ screen, it was at a disadvantage.
That left Motorola’s Droid X to battle it out with the Samsung Fascinate. Both Mr. T and I thought the display on the Fascinate was superior. We were also a little concerned that the Droid X was just a tad too large. The fact that the Fascinate had Swype was icing on the cake. Each of us decided that was the phone to get.
Stay tuned for part 2.
Tags: BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Storm 2, Blackberry Tour, Droid Incredible, Droid X, Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid 2, Palm OS, Palm Pre, Panera Bread, Samsung Fascinate, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy S i500, Samsung i9000 Galaxy S, Samsung Omni II, Samsung Omnia II i920, Swype, Verizon Wireless
Posted in Smartphones, Technology, cell phone | No Comments »
