Year: 2008

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I finally picked-up an AT&T Fuze (Touch Pro)

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After a lot of soul searching, I came to the conclusion that while I could not afford to buy an AT&T Fuze on a financial basis, I also discovered that I could not afford to keep my original HP iPAQ h5555 and put-off buying the AT&T Fuze until later. 

The HP iPAQ h5555 has outlived it’s usefulness for me.  It has WM2003 as the OS (putting me five versions behind the current OS), 128Megs of memory, no VGA, no Phone (so I have to carry a separate cell phone), no GPS (so I have to carry a separate GPS receiver), no slide-out keyboard, and no data plan to be able to surf the Internet from anywhere.

For example, I most certainly need a newer mobile device in order to continue to be able to provide useable technical support to users in the Windows Mobile Total Access forums.  Almost all of the new users in those forums have a newer device with Windows Mobile 5, or the newer WM6 and WM6.1, so it becomes infinitely harder to provide technical support when you don’t have the benefit of owning a newer device yourself. 

Yet again, I most certainly need a newer mobile device in order to be able to provide technical support to users in the GPS Tuner forums.  This device, like a lot of other devices that GPS Tuner users own, provides users with a built-in GPS radio, so that I can use 3rd party GPS Navigation software right on the device.  GPS Tuner also makes use of various online maps (Google Maps, Topo Maps, etc), so having a device that is capable of using an Internet data plan will go a long ways towards helping me troubleshoot additional capabilities of the program.

As a Microsoft MVP for Mobile Devices, it helps to have a newer mobile device in order to compare notes and professional opinions on the very same newer devices that my peers own and use on a daily basis.

As a Product Reviewer and Writer at MobilitySite, it helps to have a more recent mobile device in order to properly evaluate 3rd party programs and software, since most of the newer programs won’t even install on older PDAs.

And finally, as a Mobile Technology Enthusiast, Professional Writer, and Independent Consultant, it helps to have all the best tools available in order to help you perform your job, no matter where you might find yourself.

So, I bought the AT&T Fuze, and I’m ever so happy that I did!   I expect to continue delving into this device for at least the next month or so, as this is my first modern day device in the last 5 years.

More to come in the following days (presuming I remember to come up for air).

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2Wire Technical Support passing the buck to AT&T UVerse.

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I’m having problems getting the necessary functionalities back that I used to enjoy while using standard DSL.   Namely:

  • VPN Client: Client Access to IP Pool requires additional “spare” IP’s to use on the home network if a VPN client connect to the network.
  • Dynamic DNS Agent:Since I lost the ability for Static IP, I must now rely on Dynamic DNS services to link my current IP Address with a personalized domain name.

 

Neither of these services are provided by my new 3800HGV-B 2Wire Router, so the best solution at this time is to try inserting my old Router (Linksys WRVS4400N Business class Router) into the 2Wire.

Understandably, AT&T UVerse Technical Support does not support such a configuration since the service works with just the 2Wire Router in place.   Likewise, Linksys cannot assist me in configuring an “upstream” router.  Logically, 2Wire would be the best party to provide additional help in supporting my desired configuration, but instead of trying to be helpful, they are instead referring me back to AT&T. 

I’ve since replied back to them and advised them that AT&T won’t assist since the service works, and Linksys shouldn’t be asked to assist since the problem is with a piece of upstream equipment. 

 

We’ll see what their response is…

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Trying to setup a good Dynamic DNS solution

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Since I had to give-up my Static IP Address as part of my UVerse installation, I am looking around for a way to setup a Dynamic DNS Solution that would provide consistent access to my Home Network from the outside world.

The Problem: The challenge is that since I am now using PPOE to connnect to AT&T, my IP Address changes frequently.   Since the IP Address changes frequently, I cannot consistently know when the IP Address changes, and what it changes to. 

The Partial Solution: Enter Dynamic DNS, or DynDNS.  This is a solution that works to automatically detect the new IP Address assignment and update DNS “Dynamically” whenever a change occurs.  The Router (or software package running on one of the Private Network PCs) would detect this change, then notify the DynDNS Host Server (which is always consistent) of the new IP Address.  The downside of this particular solution is that the DynDNS Host Server will traditionally only allow the new user to pick a name for a subdomain of their existing domain choices (in my case, helpdesk.dyndns.org), and some users like myself do not like this kind of restriction.  

The Rest of the Solution (I hope):  So I’m working with my provider to see if I can create a new subdomain of matson-consulting.com and have that setup to redirect incoming traffic to the helpdesk.dyndns.org URL.

I hope I can get this setup…

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Got our AT&T U-Verse Installed today!

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Well, I was so tired of DirecTV and their HD “glitches” that I decided to give AT&T’s offering a try. 

After all, I’ve been with all the major providers so far: Comcast, then Dish Network, then most recently DirecTV.  I still had to go thru seven receivers (five Standard Definition, two High Definition)before we got one that worked, and while the programming has been fairly consistent, it still has a lot of problems.  Mostly it was lots of issues due to typical satellite “line of sight” related issues (inclement weather, birds sitting on the LNB of the dish, etc).  It didn’t help that I knew more about their services and products than their technical support people did.  Please don’t even get me started on their lack of customer service!

Anyways, I ordered the service back on the 8th, and the technician showed-up today as expected. 

Because I had wired my house for CAT6 way back in 2000, most of the work the technician would have needed to do was already done.  We used Ethernet connections to bridge all of the boxes to the new 2Wire Router (3800HGV-B), and I’m getting a good solid 25Meg download (shared between the TV Programming and my High Speed Internet).

Unfortunately, I had to give up my Static IP address that I had with my “grandfathered” DSL service, so now I’m researching Dynamic DNS (DynDNS).  I’ll probably have enough info when I’m done to write a how-to…

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My MVP Award just arrived!

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I was happy to take a break from some stone-laying that I was involved with today in order to sign for a package from DHL.  Ah, this must be the “gift” that Microsoft was sending me!  

I was totally unsure what the gift would actually be, so it would be fair to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find that Microsoft had sent me some very high quality items.

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When I first opened the package, I was greeted with a nicely pre-mounted paper Award Certificate sitting on top of the interior box. 

The Award Certificate is mounted on a backerboard that has the pre-punched swing-out stand for display on desk or fireplace mantle, and another swing-out clasp for hanging on a wall.  Very Nice!

Once I removed this award, the box below (a box within a box) became evident, and it obvious that there was a very weighty item within.

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Extracting the large gift-box within my award package, I found that it wasn’t really a box, but rather one of those 4-sided bands around top, bottom, front and back of a high-quality gift-box. 

The box was one of those impressive felt-interior boxes that the really prestigious awards come in.  It had a felt fabric latch with a pop-button at the end. Very impressive indeed.  And when you opened it, you are greeted with a very impressive etched lead crystal award.

DSCF0788The lead crystal award itself is composed of two panes of vertical crystal embedded in a thicker slab of crystal serving as the base of the award. 

The larger back pane of crystal contains an image of the world globe in the upper left corner. 

The smaller pane of crystal sits in the front, and contains the text: “We recognize and value your exceptional contributions and commitment to the technical communities worldwide.”

This award is very hefty, weighing the better part of four pounds!  However, I have to say that it is incredibly cool looking to say the least!

 

Also included in the package were a couple of other items befitting an awardee:

  • an MVP award card, which, when paired with the secret handshake and secret password, should get me into future MVP-related events.
  • an MVP lapel pin, so that I look even more cool at any swank business events. 

Very cool!   Thank you Microsoft!

 

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Newly released: GPS Tuner Version 5.4j

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Megalith Systems has just released version 5.4j of  GPS Tuner, their award winning “Off-road” GPS Navigation application.

This new version includes these new features:
– When installed on Magellan’s MobileMapper 6, it can take advantage of the special sensors (E-Compass, Temperature, Pressure) that this device contains.  Details can be found at: http://www.gpstuner.com/download/GPSTuner_v5_MM6.pdf
– When installed on an HTC Diamond/Touch Pro, it can take advantage of the sensors (Light Sensor for Day/Night mode, Nav Sensor for Zooming In/Out in Map Window or in Graphs).

For all other devices:
– Fullscreen display
– Long press of EXIT button can send GPS Tuner to background (minimize)
– Optimized display of tracks and routes on VGA devices

Check out the 2 week free trial at http://www.gpstuner.com/index.html

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Microsoft presents me with the 2009 Microsoft MVP Award!

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I was so totally surprised when I opened my e-mail this morning before heading off to work, and saw that Microsoft had written me to announce that they were presenting me with the 2009 Microsoft MVP Award in the “Windows Mobile Devices” category for all of my hard work helping-out at MobilitySite, the Microsoft Windows Mobile “Total Access” forums, and for my assistance helping out Megalith Systems (authors of GPS Tuner).

This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others.

 

Wow!   I’m honestly still in a state of shock (more than 12 hours later)…

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Received a 3-Red Rings on the XBox360

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Well, the Xbox360 failed to boot twice last night, but allowed us to watch one last DVD Xbox360_3Rings movie Saturday night.  But after that, dead.  And this time, instead of locking-up on a game, it is now displaying the 3-Red Rings problem that is more often the problem  experienced by the rest of the general public.  I’ll have to box it up and send it off to Microsoft to fix (glad I bought an extended warranty).  Microsoft says 2 to 3 weeks to fix.  That’s not bad, but since it was also our DVD player, we’ll have to go without our Games and Movies for almost a month. 

Hopefully it won’t really take that long.  Still…    Sigh…

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Busy, busy, busy!

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I’ve been reviewing a lot of different products lately, and I’m trying to put them together for formal publication.   

Here’s a partial list: Linksys WRVS4400N Business Router (Gigabit, Wireless “N”, built-in VPN Server), Linksys Wireless “N” Notebook Adapter card, Shavlik Technologies “NetChk Protect” update service, NOD32 AntiVirus 2.7, and Soti’s “Pocket Controller Professional”, and the MobileEdge “Men’s Backpack”.

Additionally, Jana will be producing a Product Review of the Tritton AX “Visor” Bluetooth Car Kit.   Hopefully we can get these all finished-up and posted soon!