Android - part II

I got my Android phone a few days ago; a HTC Hero from my regular tele provider: Telenor. They called me the day after I ordered it and said that I could pick it up the very next day.
The first thing I did, was to upgrade the firmware. To do that I had to be connected to a PC through the sync software. That is unfortunately a Windows application? Fortunately a have a dual boot pc at my job with Windows (paid and) installed, so I could upgrade the firmware.

I think it's a very nice phone and its very easy to change settings and so on and so forth. One of the first things i did, was to disable the automatic access to mobile internet connection. That kind of stuff is quite expensive here, so I would like to have completely control over that. Getting access to Wifi was easy. I normally use different Wifi connections and they are all set up. When I enter the office, I automatically go on line. Great.

The user interface is elegant but there are place for further improvements. How is is that I an use the touch screen for everything but closing the active window? Or am I just missing something?

Perhaps I need to read the instructions once more.

To navigate between the screens are very nice and its very easy to get around and find what I need. To start an application is just a cick, but how the f%¤# do I close an application again? I found out that I could download and install an application for that. Crazy that you need to have an application to be able to close other applications. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the concept.

I tried to install a few applications from Android Market and I would like the list of applications to show a short summary fra the description. Some of the applications has quite mysterious names. Its very easy to install and uninstall applications.

The mail application is somehow strange. When I read mail, the mail content will not show national characters properly. Honestly I thought that problems with character encoding was so old school. The Google mail application is fine.

The Google stuff is great. Everybody is very impressed when I show the Google Live Street View.

And I have even tried to talk with someone. Do any of you remember the days, where phones was devices to use for telephone conversations?

My experience with Android - part I

I'm working together with a few other consultants on a joint project. Last week I was sitting in the office at customer and one of my co-workers said:

Hey Leif! You are always bragging about being that open source freak. Are you aware that you are the one with the less open sourced mobile?

I must admit that it was embarrassing. I - the open source freak - was using a traditional Nokia running Symbian. And he just bought a new Android phone: The HTC Hero.

I looked at it. I tried that Google application where you can look at Google Street View in 3D (if you turn around, you will automatically switch view direction). Useless gadgets off cause. Who needs that kind of overestimated rubbish.

Today I called my operator and asked about the price and conditions. She told me about I could have a similar phone (because I'm a very valued customer) for almost nothing. Okay then. Please ship it today, I said.

No no. You must go to one of our shops and buy it. Remember to change your subscription first - then you will get it for less. Thanks a lot. I'll go and buy it right away.

Off with the bus. Shift bus twice (no wonder why their phones are so cheep. Their shop is in the middle of nowhere). Okay now finally at the phone shopand I waited only 20 minutes before I could get to talk with one of the shop employees.

Okay - A business subscription - I need to call the business department - Hang on. Waited another 3 - 5 minutes.

Fine - we can change your subscription right away if you buy a new phone. YES! Thats the whole purpose of me beeing here for crying ou loud. I was getting a little irritaded. When all the computer registrations was done, he asked me what phone I would like to buy? Well I was thinking of a HTC Hero, I said.

Ohhhh. Thats ehhh - not good. have you seen the new Iphone by the way? HTC Hero is not on stock and we have no idea about hen we can get another delivery.

WHAT?

This is one of your top models. I talked to a sales woman in business department this afternoon. She send me here.

I guess you will have to wait for my evaluation until later. So far I can only look with envy towards my co-worker by the next table. I think I'll stick with Nokia for a while. At least until Telenor can get me a new phone.

Did I tell you, that I had to wait undtill the guy could undo all his registrations to my subscription?

Extension: mOOo

It sounds like a cow and the logo is a cow. The name stands for Mobile OpenOffice.org and the project target is to create several individual applications for OpenOffice.org and mobile phones. The project is a school project.

The first application from this project makes it possible for you to control your Impress presentation from your mobile phone using Bluetooth technology. So now you can walk around and navigate your slides without having to return to your computer every time.

The solution consist of two parts: An extension for OpenOffice.org Impress and a Java application for your mobile phone. Before you begin the presentation, you will connect the two devices.

I have used this on a few occations and I feel its very nice to be independant fom my computer. It's quite easy to hold the mobile descrete in your hand and the navigation is ok. Only I would like the OK-button to navigate forward. The application even keeps track of time on the mobile display. Unfortunately it is not the time from the presentation started, bu from when the application was launched. Ok, I can live with that.

Be carefull: The application is still beta and I have found that it can make OpenOffice.org crash ! Lucky for me it didn't happen during the presentation.

Please remember to put the mobile on silent first.

The extension for Impress: http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/moooic
The Java application for your mobile: https://mooo.dev.java.net/

My mobile reached the next level: ODF files

As a regular user of OpenOffice.org, I have a lot of text and spreadsheet files on my computer. Some of these documents is stored as attachments in my mail box and in a file repository called Symfoni eOffice. I can access both mail and repository from my mobile phone (Nokia 6120 Classic), but until recently, I couldn't open my OpenDocument files.

Now my mobile has reached the next level !

This ODF file reader (Mobile Office) is easily to download and install and both text files, spreadsheets and presentations opens nicely. Okay, the screen is small, but I can actually read the documents.

http://www.sept-solutions.de/English/office_download.php