Imagination in VGA

I took advantage of the deal I mentioned in my last post and picked up a Dell Latitude XT2 Tablet PC. I have always liked Tablets, ever since I began programing an e-Textbook program on an HP TC1000, which was a great tablet but a bit small and slow. Last year I took advantage of a similar deal to purchase a Latitude XT, but it was quickly annexed by my significant other, which left me using my old Fujitsu s2110, which wasn’t the fasted machine when I bought it 3.5 years ago, though still a great laptop.

Fast forward to today - I now have a Latitude XT2 with Windows 7 Beta installed. The Latitude XT line is one of only two Tablet PC models that have a multi-touch capacitive screen, which Microsoft is integrating tightly into Windows 7. You can have a look at a demo here (notice that they use a Latitude XT). In this review, I will be analyzing my new Latitude XT2 and comparing it with the Latitude XT to determine if it is worth the upgrade. Keep reading for benchmarks, pictures, and thoughts on both the machine and Windows 7.

Read more…

Uncategorized, gadgets

I don’t plan to post a lot of deals here (I would refer people to Slickdeals and Fatwallet for that), but as I just took advantage of this deal, I thought I would share with other folks that might be interested in Tablet PCs.

Dell has always had good deals on its refurbished outlet items (50% off), and currently they have a Spring Clearance Sale running with a 20% coupon (CPP1002XWDHXDK), allowing users to get the Latitude XT and new Latitude XT2 for 60% off the retail price. Depending on the models available, that could mean an XT2 for $1,031, or an XT (Core Solo) for $575 (though I would go with the Core Duo for  a little extra).

I have an XT, and it’s a little slow, but certainly faster than a netbook, many of which are going for $400-$500. Add in the LED, 12 inch, WXGA screen with capacitive, multi-finger touch, and you have a nice little machine that weighs under 4 lbs. It’s also one of just a few tablets that has true multi-touch, will should be an integral part of Windows 7.

Tablet PC, gadgets deals, tablet pcs

Just a quick summary on the IUE 1009 conference.  First, it is a local conference for Southeast Michigan, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some quality speakers present.  As Dan Klyn pointed out, Ann Arbor can be seen as the birthplace of modern IA (check out his slides for more info).

I did do some tweeting at the conference; more than I’ve ever done actually. In fact, at one point I think I was the top contributer for #iue09. Compared to my last conference (CHI 08 in Florence), I noticed that Twitter was playing a larger role. At a panel on social networking, all of the panelists had their twitter usernames on their namecard, including Chris Barger, GM’s own Twitter guru.

I would give a summery of the talks I went to, but you can basically check out my Twitter feed for that (#iue09). A few good presentations that I could find on Slideshare:

• Our Slideshare presentation: Lessons Learned While Integrating a new IA tool
  - an overview of the process of adopting Axure for our organization, Enlighten.
• Now that I see It - Dan Klyn’s excellent presentation on his project documenting trends in Information Architecture.
• Doing Social Media Right in 2009 - Marta Strickland’s excellent keynote from Wednesday has a number of useful tips.

Axure, information architecture Axure, ieu09, information architecture

For any readers in southeast Michigan, I’ll be presenting at the Internet User Experience conference on Thursday.  Our presentation is titled “Lessons Learned While Integrating a New IA Tool” and will focus on our experiences adopting Axure RP.

Axure, information architecture Axure, conference, information architecture

With all of the cell phones, MIDs, and tablets coming out these days, it can be hard to stand out.  A company that I have never heard of, the appropriately named Always Innovating, seems to be trying to break out from the crowd.  Their new form factor is somewhat similar to the old HP TC1000 tablet I used to have, but smaller and with a couple interesting twists. Their new netbook tablet weighs a mere 2 lbs, has an 8.9 inch screen, and battery life from 10-15 hours thanks to a low power TI OMAP ARM processor.  Of course, this means that X86 operating systems like Windows XP are out, but flavors of Linux and cellular operating systems like Android are possible.  With a pricepoint of $400, it’s certainly competitive with other netbook offerings.

More information is avaible on Always Innovating’s site.

Specs:

• 9.4″ x 7″ x 1.4″ for 2 lbs (with keyboard)
• ARM Texas Instruments OMAP3 chip
• 1024×600 8.9” screen
• Storage: 8GB micro SD card
• Wifi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth
• 3-dimensional accelerometer
• Speakers, micro and headphone
• 6 USB 2.0 (3 internal, 2 external, 1 mini)
• 10h to 15 hours of battery life

Tablet PC, gadgets gadgets, netbooks, tablet pcs

In a previous post, I discussed a script that I wrote to insert text into the <HEAD> tags off all HTML files in a directory.  The intention was to allow users of Axure prototypes to insert a Protonotes script and be able to annotate pages in their prototype, similar to the functionality of Protoshare.

I have updated the script once again to Version 3.  Two new features were added: first, you can now ignore HTML files that end with “start.html”.  These files are generated by the new Axure 5.5, and they contain frames, which can make the protonotes tool difficult to work with.  Second, the script can now be minimized to the system tray, where it will run in the background.  While running, it will monitor it’s current directory for changes to the HTML files, and reinsert the script if it detects new or changed HTML files.  In this way, users can keep recreating Axure prototypes without having to run the Insert script again.

Download Version 1.3 here.

Download Version 1.31 (additional debugging support) here

Axure, programming Axure, information architecture, programing, Protonotes, Protoshare

With the announcement of the Touch Pro successor, the Touch Pro2, I’m now looking sadly at my own Touch Pro, an AT&T branded Fuze.  As usual, there is always something better on the horizon, but I think I’ll be able to get some more use out of my phone yet, because even though it isn’t a perfect phone, it is one of the most capable phones on the market today.

The Fuze is certainly not a phone for those who want top functionality out of the box. That is what the iPhone, T-Mobile G1,  or Samsung’s Touch-Wiz devices are for.  But for people who don’t mind tweaking their phones, the Fuze offers more capabilities and customization options than just about anything on the market.

There are several things that can be done to make the Fuze faster and more capable.  The best resource available is the site xda-developers.com.  There, one can find a wide assortments of custom programs and tweaks.  The ambitious can download entire custom Windows Mobile operating systems called ROMs, though doing so can void the Fuze’s warranty.  For those who don’t wish to go the custom ROM route, there are quite a few useful tweaks and programs for the stock AT&T ROM.

All of the programs in this post are freeware to the best of my knowledge and can be downloaded in this zip file.

Setup

The first tweak involves initial setup.  When you power the Fuze on for the first time, it installs a lot of custom AT&T programs.  Some of it is useful, but much if it is unnecessary bloat.  However, if you reset your phone after setup and right before the AT&T installers start, then reset one more time before the installer runs again, you will have a mostly bloat-free phone, and can just install important programs, such as TouchFlo and Opera, from the Windows folder.  Instructions for this whole process can be found here - just remember that you will need to reset twice (the XDA post doesn’t mention this until later) .

If you mess up, you can always hard reset and try again.  To hard reset, do the following:

• With the device turned on, press and hold the VOLUME DOWN and ENTER (round) buttons, then press the RESET button (bottom of the Fuze) with the stylus tip.
• Release the RESET button, but continue pressing the VOLUME DOWN and ENTER buttons until you see a message on the screen.
• Follow the instructions in the message to finish the hard reset.  This will clear all data from your Fuze (but not your memory card) and restore it to its factory default condition.

Registry Tweaks

Quick note: Duing this process, you may mess up something that causes problems for your phone.  I highly recommend using the built in Sprite Backup tool on your Fuze to create regular backups on your memory card so you can restore if you make a mistake.

Once you clear the bloat, there are a number of optimizations you can do to your Windows Mobile Registry.  To do this, you will need the following:

• A good registry editor; I recommend PHM Registry Editor.
• For those who are nervous editing their registry or want a simplier way, there are two tools that allow you to make quite a few useful registry changes through a clean, GUI interface.  Advanced Config Tool is the most useful, but Diamond Tweak also has some useful options.
• For a list of useful registry tweaks, check out this XDA thread.
• Useful GPS tweaks can be found here.
• Finally, this blog post has information about downloading a cab that will optimize your graphics with a new driver.  There is also a link in the post to download Diamond VR Hologram to test your graphics performance.

Useful Applications

So you’ve cleaned the bloat from your phone, now it’s time to add some useful programs.  There are a lot of useful programs for Windows Mobile phones, but unfortunately, there is no official Windows Mobile App Store (yet), and it can be hard to find useful applications on sites like Handango.  Luckily, all these programs are free, and I’ve attached a zip file containing all of them.  Note that some of these programs may have newer versions available than what is in the zip.

• Touch Lock Pro.  A wonderful program that will really lock your Fuze’s screen when you turn it off and will turn it on after you tap the buttons or remove the stylus.  Solved my most frusterating Fuze problem - having the battery drain in my pocket because the screen turned on.
• FM Radio.  Comes bundled with the unbranded Touch Pro, but AT&T removed it from the Fuze.  Now you can add it back and listen to the radio on your phone.  Requires headphones to pick up signals.
• MP3Trimmer.  Another program that originally came with the Touch Pro.  It lets you take an MP3 on your phone and turn it into a ringtone.
• Weather Database Editor.  Add more cities to the list for the TouchFlow weather tab.  Instructions are in the link, though you will have to read through a bunch of posts.
• Google Maps.  Probably the most useful program that is not pre-installed, and a great asset when combined with the GPS tweaks listed above.  The Windows Mobile version has support for both Streetview and Latitude.
• Fring.  The best free Instant Messaging application I have found, though I have had occasional connection issues and the GUI could use some tweaking.  For those willing to pay, check out Agile Messenger.
• Dashwire.  Back up your photos, contacts, and other information over the air, for free.  Requires signing up for an account first through the link.
• GPS Test.  A simple program that shows what satellites your GPS has a lock on.  Useful for getting a lock before starting Google Maps.
• Keepass Password Safe.  A small program that allows you to store all of your usernames and passwords in a highly encrypted database and access them with one master password.  Also works on desktop PCs.
• ceTwit.  There are several Twitter applications available for Windows Mobile, and this one is basic but works for me.
• Lightsaber.  Basic program, lets you swing your phone like a fool and hear lightsaber noises.  Great for parties.
• QuickMark.  A program for reading QR codes, which are still gaining popularity in the U.S.
• Skyfire.  An alternative to the Opera browser that caches your websites on a remote server.  Less finger friendly than Opera, but supports Flash to a limited degree and works well over EDGE connections.
• TCPMP.  An alternative movie/music player.  Now discontinued, but still works well. For those who are willing to pay, development continues on the commercial version.
• Skype.  Fring allows VOIP calls, but many people already have Skype accounts.
• Illium ScreenCapture.  In case you need screenshots from your phone.  This program has a nice timer feature.
• Total Commander.  GUI feels a little dated, but it offers a file manager with many more options than the Windows Mobile default manager.

For those who want to be able to record calls (check the legality first), you will need the following two programs, which can be found here or in the zip file above.  I would definitely create a backup with Sprite Backup before installing these.

• XDA Diamond Dialer - the dialer from the HTC Touch HD.  I’m not sold on it, but it works all right and is necessary for recording.
• In Call Recording - adds a record option to the calling menu.

This list is certainly not exhaustive, but should provide you with some useful programs to get started with your Fuze. Again, the zip file containing these programs is available here.  Also, if you are looking for a very minimalist leather case without flaps and belt clips and other bulky things, try this one.  Note that I have this case, but I did not purchase from that seller, so I cannot vouch for them (though they have good reviews).

Mobile AT&T, fuze, htc, programs, setup, smartphone, touch pro, windows mobile

Update 2/27/09: Updated the HeadInsert script again to Version 1.3.  Read about the changes here.

Update 1/21/09: Added new version of HeadInsert which can ignore certain HTML files.

Do a Google search on Axure vs. Protoshare vs. iRise and you may find sponsored links from each of these products explaining why they are the best.  These three are the leading “designed for IA” options for wireframing and prototyping (I say designed for IA, as Visio, Omnigraffle, and other drawing/diagramming tools still have a strong following).

iRise was never an option for me due to the cost, so I have been using Axure for the past 8 months. I initially was able to use Axure for free thanks to their Good Student Program, and I found it to be well worth the cost when I entered the workplace. I have found it to be a great tool for wireframing, prototyping, and generating specifications.  While there is certainly room for improvement, particularly with specification generation, the community around Axure is engaged and growing, which means that new features and widget libraries are coming all the time.

I heard about Protoshare a couple months ago.  While I haven’t used it, I have read some documentation and viewed demonstrations.  Axure still seems to be more fully featured for wireframing and prototyping, but I was intregued by Protoshare’s reviewing features.  Then, while browsing the Axure forums, someone mentioned Protonotes, a free tool for annotating HTML pages.  As Axure produces HTML prototypes, it seemed like the Protonote script could be inserted to achieve functionality similar to Protoshare.  By inserting the script into each page in the prototype, team members and even clients could make comments directly on the prototype/wireframe, which can then be viewed in a central location.

The problem is that Axure generates a new HTML page for each wireframe, so large projects can easily generate 20+ pages.  Inserting the Protonotes script into the header of each one every time the prototype is recreated isn’t really feasible.  To that end, I wrote a small program that will allow users to automatically insert a script into the header of each HTML file for their prototype.

Just download and extract this Zip file.  Generate your Axure prototype and drop the HeadInsert.exe file into your prototype directory.  Run it, then paste your Protonotes code into the text box.  Leave the checkboxes checked (you don’t want Protonotes scripts in your frame management files) and press the insert button. For example, I pasted the following:

<script src=”http://www.protonotes.com/js/protonotes.js” type=”text/javascript”></script>
<script type=”text/javascript”>
var groupnumber=”##############“;
</script>

into all of my prototype HTML files.

I recommend making a backup of your prototype files if they are important, as there is no way to reverse the process short of opening each .html file and removing the code you inserted (though you can always regenerate your prototype with Axure). I am not responsible for anything unexpected that happens to your files, unlikely as this is.  It’s a pretty simple script, but if any errors occur, please let me know.

Zip file: HeadInsert_v1.2

Axure, information architecture, programming Axure, information architecture, programming, Protonotes, Protoshare

It looks like the federal government will be giving a $20 tax credit to businesses for employees who bike to work.  Apparently this credit goes directly to the business, which can use it to purchase showers, bike helmets, and other support gear.  As someone who bikes to work regularly in the summer, I would love to have $20, or even see the money go to support biking at my workplace.  Unfortunately, it looks like the money is based on how many months one bikes during the year, which means Michigan businesses probably won’t see much more than 6 months worth.

Outdoors biking

For those who have been watching the news, Microsoft’s Zune mp3 player froze for owners on December 31. Microsoft blamed the bug on the leap year, and it seems that things have resolved themselves. Looking at the Zune source code, one can see exactly where things went wrong:

while (days > 365)
    {
        if(IsLeapYear(year))
        {
            if (days > 366)
            {
                days -= 366;
                year += 1;
            }
        }
        else
        {
            days -= 365;
            year += 1;
        }
    }

For those without a programming background, the problem is that there is no “if” for day 366, just for days greater than 366 (which would be January 1 of 2009).  This means that the code gets caught in in infinite loop on the 366th day (December 31) of the year.  On January 1 of 2009, however, the “days” variable is set to 367, which causes the day to be set back to 1 (January 1) and the year to be incremented to 2009.  So the bug only lasts a day.

Programming 101 - be sure to test all of your cases, particularly those inside of loops.

programming Microsoft, programming