Dave's iPAQ

GRAND HAVEN, Mich., July 29 — Heralding in a new era of city-wide WiFi Internet access, Grand Haven, Mich., Mayor Roger Bergman today announced the completion and full operation of the nation’s first city-wide WiFi broadband network. Other cities have announced intent to build similar networks or have announced partial deployments; in contrast, the Grand Haven implementation, by Ottawa Wireless Inc., is the first full and complete city- wide WiFi deployment in the country.

“As the first WiFi city in America, Grand Haven has truly lived up to its name in the Internet era, as we now allow anyone anywhere to connect to the Internet and roam the city and waterways in a completely secure computing environment,” Mayor Bergman said. “The city-wide WiFi service provided by Ottawa Wireless is already enhancing the quality of life for residents and tourists and enabling the city to provide new services.”

Developed and managed by Ottawa Wireless, a leading provider of wireless Internet access solutions to business and local government, the system uses several hundred WiFi (802.11a, b, g) radios strategically located upon the city infrastructure to blanket its six square miles and provide coverage 15 miles into Lake Michigan. WiFi, for wireless fidelity, is a technology that gives users the freedom to receive and transmit data over the Internet at high speeds from anywhere within the broadcast signal range. Voice over IP (VoIP) Internet-based phone service is also available on the new network.

The city-wide WiFi service, which began commercial operation on a smaller scale in the fall of 2003, represents a technology first for Ottawa Wireless, which also is developing many other community-wide WiFi “hot cities” across the Midwest.

“While a few other cities have announced their intent to build similar networks, Grand Haven is the first to provide access across the entire city limits, making it America’s first ‘hot city,'” said Ottawa Wireless CEO Tyler van Houwelingen, a former Intel engineer and McKinsey & Company technology consultant.

“Grand Haven demonstrates how the public and private sectors can work together to provide an entire city and everyone within its limits with more affordable, easy-to-access Internet service,” he added. “This is a proud moment for Grand Haven, and the benefits of anytime-anywhere Internet access are being enjoyed by every facet of our town, from tourists, boaters, and residents to businesses and municipal agencies. Already with more than 300 customers, this WiFi service is having a dramatic impact on the way people work, play and communicate around town. Its benefits are many, as it enables new public security services, attracts businesses, boosts tourism, and supports education.”

Grand Haven, population 12,000, has more than 2 million visitors each year. Some hotels and marinas subsidize the wireless service, offering it free to guests. A local realtor views home listings and prices while touring properties with clients. A local web designer has relocated his office to his boat for the summer. Other current customers include the city administration, large and small businesses, and restaurants. Local public safety agencies and the hospital are in the process of connecting to the network.

In addition to fixed/mobile high-speed Internet access, Ottawa Wireless provides advanced services, such as point-to-point dedicated VPN connections, remote wireless video surveillance, and high-speed access for boaters up to 15 miles offshore and at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. City-wide mobile WiFi VoIP telephone calling is currently in beta testing with full launch expected in the next few months. Monthly prices for always-on broadband Internet starts at $19.99 for 256 kbps, and unlimited mobile VoIP calling is $29.99. Per-day pricing is available for tourists and other visitors.

Building the First City-Wide WiFi Network

Ottawa Wireless overcame many technology, right-of-way, and line-of-sight challenges to build this pioneering network across this picturesque town of tall trees and rolling hills. Ottawa Wireless partners include The City of Grand Haven, Grand Haven Board of Light & Power, Proxim Corp., Ottawa Electric, LogiSense Corp., and Winncom Technologies.

Proxim, a leading provider of wireless equipment, provided the network radios, which include Proxim ORiNOCO AP-4000 tri-band access points and the Proxim Tsunami MP.11a point-to-multipoint wireless backhaul system.

According to Lynn Lucas, director of product marketing for Proxim, “The Ottawa Wireless network is a great example of how to effectively provide last- mile broadband access to a community. Not only can it be offered less expensively than DSL and cable, it is also fully mobile and can be rolled out with extreme speed. We have been delighted to participate with a dynamic company like Ottawa Wireless and are excited to continue working with them as they grow their network.”

About Ottawa Wireless

Ottawa Wireless, based in Grand Haven, Mich., is a leading provider of wireless Internet access and services to consumers, businesses and local government agencies. With the most public WiFi locations deployed throughout the Midwest, Ottawa Wireless uses open spectrum wireless Internet for data, voice and video applications. The firm is recognized as a pioneer in the public deployment of WiFi and WiMAX technologies. Additional information about Ottawa Wireless is available at http://www.ottawawireless.com.

WiMAX is a registered trademark of the WiMAX Forum. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

I received a copy of Spb Time and quickly installed it on four iPAQ’s (3630, 3970, 1945, and a 5555). Spb Time is cool little application that gives you an analog or a digital clock (that is skinnable), a world clock, a timer/stopwatch function in one neat little program. If you have Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, there is a great a screensaver when Pocket PC is connected to external power.

The install went well, easily coming up giving you two options (install trial version or install a registered version). The registered version option is nice because you just have to install it once on your PC and do not have to re-register it on a re-install. I like that feature! After the install, the setup screen asks if you want to subscribe to their newsletter, be notified of updates, and asks if you want to be notified about other Spb products. It is nice that they give you the option to say yes or no. I said yes to all and was immediately brought to the Spb Software House site.

I had to leave my computer for a few moments and when I returned about 10 minutes later; there was this very cool Analog Clock on my iPAQ. It actually surprised me at how nice it looked. I tapped the screen and it went back to what I had originally on the screen.

So, what is this program all about? Well, let’s take a look. Clicking on the icon in programs opens Spb Time with the Analog Clock and four tab-type buttons at the bottom of the screen: Clock/Timers, Analog Clock, Digital Clock , and World Time.

CLOCK OPTION

Pressing the Clock/Timer button toggles you between the clock you are using and a neat interface that has the timers. The clock has three choices for you to pick from: an analog clock, a digital clock with a monthly calendar, and a world clock that has the time and date displayed for four major world cities. With the world time, you have the option of changing the city displayed easily with a drop down menu on each city displayed.

If you press on the screen while the analog clock is running, you will get the choice of setting a new alarm, show alarms on the clock, and then an option to take you to the Clocks option. If you press on the screen with the digital clock, you choose from setting a new alarm, show alarm, show calendar, show seconds, and the Clocks options. Finally, if you press on the screen under world time, you can change one of the four cities you have selected, show all the cities on the world map, and decide if you want the night shadow. The world time screen will allow you to show a full screen of a selected city.

Alarms can be set only under Analog or Digital clock. As you set an alarm, you will have the option to accept the alarm, cancel, or go to a tools alarm option screen where you can set the time, length of snooze, to disable the alarm, days to go off, sound, and volume. You have the ability to have the alarm repeat itself as it goes off and of course you can preview the sound. When an alarm goes off, you can hit a “snooze” or shut it off.

Do I like the alarm feature? Well, I set the alarm to go off at 6:15 AM. I shut of my iPAQ and placed it next to my bed. At 6:15, I was awakened by the sound of an alarm. Did the snooze work? You bet and the snooze button was large enough to hit with my finger. Never again will I have to take an alarm clock on a trip nor will I ever have to “fiddle around” with the alarms they have in hotels only to find that they don’t work. I really like this feature!

TIMER OPTION

Pressing the Clock/Timer button again so Timer is highlighted gives you three new choices to pick from (single timer with lap, a count down timer with five timers displayed, and a stopwatch timer with five counters displayed). The single timer has a neat skin with a start and clear button on the left. Pressing the start arrow starts the timer. When the timer starts, the start button is replaced with a stop button and the clear button is replaced with a lap button. A very neat design! If you press the lap button, it shows the time in a little screen to the right. Each consecutive press of the lap button gives its time on the screen. A terrific feature is that when you press the lap button, it prints in black and when you press the stop, it prints in red. It makes it real easy to understand the times as you review the screen. There is a text screen you can press to review all the time durations and compare them to the offset from the start. On this screen, you have the option of saving the times and clearing the screen.

The count down timer gives you the option to set five different timers that you can pre-determine the length of time. A drop down arrow will bring you to the timer options. There are ample alarm choices for you to pick from…maybe even too many. You have the ability to name a timer, its interval, the alarm sound, and its volume. When the time has elapsed, the alarm sounds.

The stopwatch timer gives you five timers to use. As you press each timer, the options are the same as they were for the single timer. A drop down arrow will take you to the lap times screen that shows duration and offset. The option to save and clear is there.

At any time, you can toggle between the timer and clock. Under the Clock/Timer button is a program options tab.

OPTIONS

Under Options, there are six choices (Skins, Clocks, Alarms, Timers, World, Screen Saver) to choose from that will enable you to customize your clock.

SKINS: There are four clock skins that are come with the program, White, Black, Egypt, and the Default. I like the Black…it just looks cool!

CLOCK: You can opt to show alarms on the clock screen and with the digital clock, you can display a monthly calendar.

ALARMS: If you have set an alarm, you can see the options you have assigned. By pressing on an alarm setting, you can edit the alarm or delete it.

TIMERS: Two options, no sleep on timers and the choice to keep a backlight on timers while running (great feature for long duration timing that you want to view easily).

WORLD: Here is where you pick your four cities, night shadow, and whether or not you want to show all displayable cities. You have three choices for the screen saver and you have the option to disable it if certain programs are running.

SCREEN SAVER: For 2003 users, there is a screen saver tab. There are three modes (analog, digital, world) and a setting called Timeout that allows you to set when the screen saver comes on (10 sec minimum). There are certain programs that you may run that you will not want the screen saver to “kick in”. You have the option to set which programs you want to disable the screen saver. It would have been nice if they added the option to disable the screen saver totally on this tab.

This is a neat program if you have the need for Clock, Alarm, Stopwatch, and Timer. I have thoroughly enjoyed this product and will keep it on my iPAQ.

COST: $9.95

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

Spb Time

Click on the above link and take a virtual tour…it is a great way to see the features of Spb Time.

Click here for some Spb Time screenshots

03-05-2005, 03:08 PM	#1
Registered User   Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1	Shock Wave Flash Media Does anybody know whether you can play .swf files on the Hp Ipaq 3715. Thank You

03-05-2005, 03:25 PM	#2
Senior Editor     Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Massachusetts & Maine Posts: 1,780	Have you looked here: http://www.macromedia.com/mobile/ __________________ Jack Cook Senior Editor, Dave’s iPAQ Microsoft MVP – Mobile Devices NEW Dont forget our Podcast hotline telephone number in the US: 1-425-738-9506 available 24 hours a day 7 days a week or leave us a SKYPE Voicemail by clicking here . Also dont forget to add us to your Podcast aggregator by clicking here.

Picking a case for your iPAQ is a personal decision. Most likely you choose a case based on two reasons; the look that you want and the protection it will provide for your device. There is however a third reason, the function that it will serve and for me, I was looking for a case that would protect my iPAQ while I was driving and using my Earthmate Bluelogger GPS.

I have always liked leather cases and preferably the kind that flip sideways, have room for my license, a few credit cards and an extra SD memory card. Pretty much, I usually like a case to hold my iPAQ and serve as a wallet but this type of a case is unrealistic while using your GPS. It is just two hard to keep the flap open, look at the GPS and drive at the same time.

With my iPAQ sitting on the dashboard or the console next to me, there is always the possibility of it dropping on the floor if I take a sudden turn or hit a few bumps. I needed a case that would protect my investment, not add bulk and can easily be put on or removed when I need to use it or not. Well, JAVOedge has come to the rescue with their JAVOSkin case.

The JAVOSkin is a translucent, scratchproof, flexible silicone case that has a translucent whitish color to it. It is about 1/16 of an inch thick so it form-fits your iPAQ yet does not add bulk, thus keeping the thin look of your iPAQ. The design has been contoured to fit all edges to protect it from bumps or from getting any scratches.

WEST CHESTER, Pa., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — ComCam, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CMCA – News) today announced the release of its Pocket C3 camera control center for CE and Pocket PC platforms. Pocket C3 is a derivative of the company’s C3 software product that brings commercial control room video capability to a laptop computer.

ComCam’s Andy Finkel, former Commodore Business Machines Amiga Software Director, is the architect of the Pocket C3 application. Pocket C3 is a “lite” version suitable for mobile homeland security uses and IP security applications, yet cost-effective enough for home use. Both products provide Unicode character support in seven languages including Japanese and Chinese.

According to ComCam CEO, Don Gilbreath, “Pocket C3’s performance is astonishing. With the current generation of PDAs we get great frame rates and an unprecedented degree of control of our cameras deployed around the world. Pocket C3 also controls popular third party cameras through our microserver hardware. Infrared cameras, thermal cameras, pan tilt zoom cameras, controls, and sensors all gain the advantage of IP connectivity through this highly portable computing platform. The ComCam systems are ideal for police, homeland security, emergency crews, commercial, and home use. Pocket C3 is seamlessly integrated with the rest of ComCam’s network command and control solutions suite.”

A demo version is currently available for immediate download on ComCam’s website http://www.comcam.net, in the product section.

As a part of ComCam’s ongoing platform enhancements, other product upgrades and revisions include: C3 with enhanced viewing, control technology, and motion sensing; ComCam Video Locker, a web-based hosting Internet DVR and redirection service; CCActiveX, a portal-based and middleware application module; My ComCam, a web-based video management client/technology relationship application; New Camera Wizard, a camera behavior modification setup application; CamNOS, a proprietary real time network video operating system; and the ComCam SDK, software development kit.

ComCam, Inc. is a pioneering developer of advanced Internet Protocol (IP) cameras, video micro servers, software, and end-to-end network control solutions. ComCam specializes in wireless IP, mobile, and wearable devices. Ideal for remote use in inhospitable environments, ComCam products have been used in commercial aircraft for live air-to-ground video as well as in the U.S. Navy’s underwater robotics programs for telemetry control and recording. ComCam products are deployed in situations ranging from simple access control with video applications to advanced measurement solutions for weather stations, robotic equipment and advanced homeland security products.

HP and T-Mobile have released a maintenance ROM for the h6315 series, and is available from the T-Mobile support website. This maintenance ROM will also be available from the HP support website by the first week of April.

Performance improvements will be experienced in the following areas: Updated WLAN Driver New GSM/GPRS Firmware New Bluetooth Stack Other various feature enhancements

Download it NOW

Find out more

03-08-2005, 09:16 AM	#1
Registered User   Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1	AudioVox 6600 and Clipboard Use To All Whom Use the AudioVox 6600: If you use a PDA like I do, everyday and intensely, the methods of how we get information in and out of these devices is really the crux of the matter. Further, how we input text becomes laborious after a while, especially if it has the same root function. Let me explain…. In my experience of using PDA’s, from the Velo to this AudioVox 6600, my main purpose has been toward solving one of the greatest problems of medicine, that of trying to read the doctor’s handwriting. To say that my handwritten notes are completely unrecognizable would be a complement; they are really horrrible! So, for the last seven years I have been using PDAs to do my notes, and have even used an electronic medical record for about the same time. Keeping a database of previously entered notes allows for good patient care! The EMR I use is called Patient Tracker; it even syncs with the desktop version I run on Windows XP, which by the way is running on Virtual PC on my PowerBook. The AudioVox is recognized through ActiveSync, and all notes are synchronized nicely. This is the first PDA (in my experience) that the Mac recognized through USB, so I intend to use it for a good while! The reason I write this is that I need your help. My experiences are much like yours with these “new devices.” I too can not make the SanDisk WiFi 256 MB card to work on the Audiovox, and I also had trouble with the BT Jabra 250 and a wireless BT keyboard until I did the last update from AudioVox. However, when you carry around a pager, a cell phone, and a PDA, the AudioVox is indeed worth the effort. My main problem is that when I write progress notes in the EMR on the PDA I can not cut/paste the bottom parts of the old note to the new note. This saves valuable time, and allows for better documentation in the office and the hospital. When I was using my previous PDA (an HP 4150 that had BT and WiFi built in), the version of Pockcet PC OS was 2003 Premium Edition. It was compatible with PHM’s powertoys, which had the clipboard function I needed. Now working with the AudioVox 6600, I have tried ScrapPanel without success (even got a refund from the author), and even gave PHM’s PowerToys a go. No luck anywhere. What I need is simply a program that allows for simple copy and paste funciton from one PPC proggie to the next, and something that is compatible with this “second edition” of the 2003 OS. Nothing in medicine is pre-defined, so even the latest program out called “TapText” would even work. All I need is to copy and paste in a stand alone PPC app! Lastly, I have been a user of many PDAs as I noted above. I use them for the care of my patients in ways that matter. If you have any success with a type of program that does what I need, please forward it to me. I am even willing to beta test something! Oh, by the way, SanDisk will have a driver out for those of us with the WiFi 256 MB SD card soon, probably in the next few months. Sincerely, DrsPDA

03-14-2005, 12:35 AM	#2
Registered User   Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	DrsPDA, did you find a solution to your problem? I think such a function would be very useful.

Cushioned Comfort To Protect Your iPAQ

With all the cases I have accumulated, I still need a case for protecting the exterior of my iPAQ while driving my car and using my GPS. I suppose one day I might get a permanent mount, but for now, I rest it on my console while my GPS is being used. With the movement a car makes while traveling down a highway or a side road, I want the ability to view my iPAQ screen and still have protection for the exterior and I don’t want it to slip off the console.

I have tried skincases before and they work fine but I was never happy with their color, so I just stopped using them; that is until I saw the FlexiSkin from BoxWave . They have a skin case that closely resembles the exterior color of my 4700 — and that is what prompted me to try it.

BoxWave’s FlexiSkin cases are made from a soft, durable, flexible silicone material that stretch around your case to fit like a glove. Because it contours to your iPAQ’s shape, you are able to preserve the look and size of your iPAQ without it becoming too heavy or bulky.

There is just enough “flex” in the material to cushion it if it should slip and fall on the floor and clearly enough protection to ward of scratches. Because the skin is flexible, it slips over my iPAQ with an extended battery very easily — something that none of my other cases will allow me to do (except my ruggedized case).

The cutouts are perfect, allowing you access to each feature of your iPAQ. There is even a cutout for your flip cover but there is some restriction trying to close the cover. A simple-to-use detachable belt clip that comes with the case allows for those that wish to carry your iPAQ on your belt. It has a brass fitting for attaching a removable screw into the back of the case. The screw and clip are a white plastic— I didn’t care for that; it just didn’t fit in with the smoke black color of the skin.

I am pleased with the anti-slip properties of the case. Your iPAQ has a little extra “grip” on surfaces. Of course, it is washable and tear-resistant and it includes a carrying strap — which I would never use.

Durable and protective, this case will protect your iPAQ from scratches and bumps. If you are looking for a simple means of providing protection, this case is worth looking at.

Cost:

$27.95

Pros

Form-fitting case (fits with extended battery) excellent Anti-slip properties smoke black color is my favorite

Cons

White Plastic belt clip
silicone attracts dust

Rating:

4.5 out of 5

You can visit the Boxwave site here.

1. Data Defrost – One man brought in a hard drive in a wet plastic bag. He said he had read on the Internet that if you place a broken drive in the freezer it would fix it. So he tried that method and asked the recovery engineers not to laugh.

2. Reckless Recycling – One man tidied up his computer folders and inadvertently deleted the ones he meant to keep. He then cleaned up his system, emptied the recycle bin and defragged the hard drive before realizing his error. He now triple-checks files before deleting them for good.

3. Rowdy Relatives – A man suddenly found his laptop would only boot up to the ‘blue screen of death,’ putting his data at risk. A week later, his nephew admitted that he used its screen as a punching bag to relieve his frustrations with the slow computer. The man sent his nephew back to live with his parents.

4. Digital Disaster at 19,000 Feet – The Polish explorer, Krystof Wielicki, dropped his digital camera when climbing the Himalayas on his latest expedition, smashing it to smithereens and damaging the memory card in the process.

5. Gone in a Flash – One medical company worker completed 1,200 customer billing entries – a process that took several days – when lightning struck the transformer outside the building. Everything was gone, including all the bills she had just prepared.

6. Baby Blues – One couple had hundreds of pictures of their baby’s first three months on their computer. When a virus struck their PC, the computer manufacturer advised them to reload the operating system but they forgot to save the data.

7. Construction Calamity – During the construction of a large office building, a steal beam fell on a laptop computer containing the building plans, crushing the laptop.

8. Toilet Trauma – One man became so mad with his malfunctioning laptop computer, he threw it into the toilet and flushed a couple of times.

9. Road Kill – A woman placed her laptop on top of her car while she got in. She forgot about the laptop, which slid off the back of her car, and she then reversed straight over it and reported hearing a ‘crunch’.

And finally…

10. Runway Wreckage – A laptop computer was run over by an airplane. Even Ontrack’s recovery engineers don’t understand how it happened, but that was the customer’s explanation.

About Ontrack Data Recovery

Ontrack Data Recovery is the largest, most experienced and technologically advanced provider of data recovery products and services worldwide. Ontrack is able to recover lost or corrupted data from virtually all operating systems and types of storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab capabilities, using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques. Ontrack Data Recovery is a brand name of Kroll Ontrack Inc., the technology services subsidiary of Kroll Inc., the global risk consulting company.

HP today announced it is accelerating its product recycling program by setting a goal to recycle 1 billion pounds of electronic products and printing supplies globally by 2007.

In 2003, HP recycled more than 100 million pounds of electronic products and printing supplies through its Planet Partners return and recycling program, raising the company-wide total to 500 million pounds recycled since HP began recycling in 1987. This goal is specific to recycling, and does not include the millions of products that HP and its partners refurbish, re-use, donate or resell.

Addressing electronic waste is one of HP’s three global citizenship priorities. As part of this effort, HP opened its first recycling facility in Roseville, Calif. in 1997, becoming the only major computer manufacturer to operate its own end-to-end recycling facility. A second HP recycling facility has since been opened in LaVergne, Tenn. HP’s other two global citizenship priorities are focused on raising social and environmental standards in the supply chain and increasing access to information technology.

HP intends to reach this global recycling goal by expanding the program to more customers and creating new, convenient ways for consumers to return and recycle used or unwanted electronic equipment in a convenient and environmentally responsible manner. Since HP Planet Partners was officially launched in 1991, the company has implemented a number of initiatives designed to increase customer awareness of the importance of recycling unwanted computer products, including:

e-coupons: e-coupons offer online recycling customers savings on new products from HPshopping.com. In-box labels and envelopes: Postage-paid labels and envelopes are included in many replacement HP LaserJet and inkjet print cartridge boxes in the United States and Europe. Standards: HP has global recycling standards for management of end-of-life computer hardware products that address labor and safety at supplier operations.

Public policy: HP has worked closely with national, state and provincial governments to develop “shared responsibility” recycling legislation where producers are responsible for the recycling of their products.

The HP Planet Partners program operates globally in more than 30 countries and seeks to reduce the environmental footprint of IT products, minimize waste going to landfills and provide customers with a convenient and environmentally sound end-of-life solution.

More information on HP Planet Partners is available at www.hp.com/recycle. HP’s 2004 Global Citizenship Report is available at www.hp.com/go/report.

About HP

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2004, HP revenue totaled $76.8 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.