Got my Motorola Milestone

Android Phones

My family members have iPhones - and they look great.  They seem to perform well, the user interface is superb - another great example of Apple's excellent design and business execution.

However, I quite often like to walk to the beat of a different drum.  Since I run Ubuntu on my laptop at home, I have always planned to get an Android phone.

Why Android?

When it was first announced that Google was creating an Open Source operating system for phones/PDAs - I was immediately interested.  I believe there are a number of issues around how Apple controls the applications that are available for downloading.

Oh, and you HAVE to buy their hardware to get their operating system...

Which Device?

That's a hard one.  I have just bought a Motorola Milestone (Droid in the USA).  It has a screen that appears a smidgen longer than the iPhone.  After using it for a few days, my immediate thoughts are that it's a pretty good platform.  It also has the benefit of a side-sliding keypad if you want to write longer text input.  It has multi-touch AND it uses Corning's Gorilla Glass - so it's a lot tougher and scratch resistant.

Motorola Milestone

The Future?

At present the number of applications for the iPhone exceeds those for the Android, but think about it a bit more...  You have one platform where a company controls the applications that get listed, and another platform that has both an organised marketplace AND the ability for companies to publish their own applcations.

Many of the useful applications for the iPhone have already been made available for Android phones.  Last night I installed Shazam - an application that "listens" to some music that's playing (not on your device - as long as it's audible), then tells you the name of the song, the artist and a load of other information - amazing.

One last thing.  Like Ubuntu, Android is based on Linux - so it has to be good.

;-D

Configuring the Milestone for Optus

I use Optus as my carrier.  When I connected to the Optus network, it didn't auto configure my settings for Internet access, etc.  For those of you who gt a Milestone on Optus, here is what you have to do (credit to GeekyGirl in this post)

Name: Optus

APN: internet

Proxy:
Port:
Username:
Password:
Server:
MMSC:
MMS Proxy:
MMS Port:
MCC: 505
MNC: 02
APN Type:

Name: Optus Internet
APN: yesinternet
Proxy:
Port:
Username: * -- just an asterix here nothing else

Password: *

Server: *

MMSC:
MMS Proxy:
MMS Port:
MCC: 505
MNC: 02
APN Type:

MMS Settings -

Name: Optus MMS
APN: mms
Proxy: 202.139.83.152
Port: 8070
Username: *
Password: *
Server: *
MMSC: http://mmsc.optus.com.au:8002/
MMS Proxy: 61.88.190.10
MMS Port: 8070
MCC: 505
MNC: 02
APN Type: mms

Unlimited FUN with Funambol!

:: Limited Time Offer ::

OK readers here's the deal.  The first 10 people who email me at peter@thetyrrells.id.au will be granted UNLIMITED Funambol accounts.  At present, when you sign up you get a 90 day trial account.

This offer is on the Funambol web site BUT IT ENDED on 1 JANUARY 2010.

I have been given a brief extension, so get your request into me.  In your email just supply your name and email address (you will later register for Funambol using the name & email address you send to me).

First in, best dressed!

For Multimedia Lovers

Serious or Fun - Ubuntu Studio is for you
If you are think of taking the plunge into the world of Ubuntu - that's great.  If you like to tinker with audio, video or graphics then wait!

Don't install the standard Ubuntu before you have a look at Ubuntu Studio.  This community has done all the hard work for you.  They have selected the best Open Source software and packaged it into Ubuntu.

Please note I haven't used Ubuntu Studio myself as I'm not into the audio & video editing, etc - but I have read quite a number of articles that give it the thumbs up.

Funambol - sync everything!

Sychronisation made Easy

I've been using Funambol for a few weeks now and I'm impressed by its capabilities.  I'm running Ubuntu Linux on my Toshiba laptop (64 bit).  I use Mozilla Thunderbird with the Lightning plug-in to handle my Contacts, Calendar and Tasks.

On my PDA (HTC Touch 3G) I'm running Windows Mobile 6.5.  Now I have tried various methods to synchronise between these 2 machines using a USB connection and I have had some success.  But it all seems a little cludgy.  Then I found Funambol.

What is Funambol?

Funambol is a web-based service that allows you to synchronise information like Calendars, Tasks, Contacts, Notes and "Briefcase".  It supports many different connections such as Linux (Thunderbird, Evolution, etc), Windows (Outlook), Mac, Windows Mobile, iPhone and soon Android.

Funambol provides plug-ins for these platforms that allow you to perform the synchronisation.  Various settings give you control over how the synchronisation process works, etc.

You can register for free (see the Funambol logo on the right hand side bar).  Registrations up to 31 March 2010 will be free (see conditions on their web site).  If you choose to be part of the Funambol community, you may be eligible for unlimited access.

My Thoughts

I have found it a very easy process to register, download and install the plugins - and make it work.  You can even elect to upgrade your support and the Funambol functionality, but the free functionality works fine for me.

Happy funambulating!

OpenDNS

OpenDNS - do you need it?
OpenDNS provides a free service to home users.  It also has options for small buiness and large corporations.  The free service provides quite a few benefits for the home user:

• Faster Web navigation
• Parental Control
• Smart advice on mistyped address
• Protection from phishing attacks
• More...

How to set it up
The OpenDNS web site provides very good step-by-step advice on how to set up OpenDNS.  If you have a router, it allows you to select the brand, then shows you the models.  It tells you how to configure each model.

My experience
As you know, I run Ubuntu (Karmic Koala) on my laptop at home.  The first thing I noticed was a dramatically faster experience on Firefox.  I believe other users in my household - all of whom run various MS Operating Systems, also noticed an improvement.  I am not using any of the additional features like Parental Control or blacklisting.

It's free - so give it a go.  If you don't like, just revert back to your current settings.

Open Source - no money, but still a cost

Today there is a vast amount of software available at no monetary cost.  The software is usually covered by some form of licence.  One of the most popular licences is the General Public License (GPL).

A lot of Open Source software is created to run on open platforms such as Linux.  Installing software on Linux is a little less straightforward than installing software under Windows.  For a start, Linux has quite a few different "flavours".  I use Ubuntu Linux, but there are several other options available for the personal user as well as corporations.

Under Ubuntu, some software is available for installation via the Ubuntu Software Center (under the Applications Menu).  Ubuntu also has the Synaptic Package Manager (under the System > Administration menu).

Ubuntu is maintained and distributed by Canonical, a company with a goal of providing quality open source software.  The software available under the Applications Menu has been tested to work with Ubuntu.  This also goes for software under the Synaptic Package Manager, if it isn't listed as "universe" or "multiverse".  There are also a lot of debug versions of software to assist developers.

Other Open Source Software

There are various forums on the web that discuss open source software.  Some of the software is not available under the software manager on your platform.   The authors usually provide information as to how to download and install their software.  The process is not as simple as that under Windows, where you usually download an exe file and double-click to run it.  Linux has (arguably) a slightly tighter security model than Windows.  You need to install software as a Super User.  This is a bit like having Administrative access under Windows.

Sometimes Open Source software requires other software to run correctly.  If installed using the Software Manager, then any pre-requisites are installed along with the software you select.  This is great.  Sometimes under Windows, you install software and it needs something else, but you don't know what...

Keeping Current

Ubuntu has an Update Manager that checks whether there are any updates required for you platform.  But it does more than that.  It also checks for updates for any software you have installed from the Ubuntu Software Center or the Synaptics Package Manager (base level).  The process seems much quicker to me than Windows.

Is it Useful?

I have found the software available under Open Source to be as good as, or better than, commercial software.  OpenOffice provides basically the same functionality as Microsoft Office.  OK, there are some areas that are different, but for the general user, it works fine.  There are plenty of options available for multimedia software.  For Ubuntu, there is a site called Medibuntu that provides a host of great packages, installation instructions and discussion forums.

Give it a go!

If you are running Windows, it is possible to boot your PC from a USB stick with Ubuntu installed.  This means you can run Ubuntu without any permanent changes to your machine.  You can also run Ubuntu as a "dual boot" option alongside Windows.  If there are some software products that you use under Windows that you think you absolutely cannot do without, then there are software products under Ubuntu such as WINE, that allow you to install and run Windows software.

The cost?  Your time.  You need to search for software, read about what people are saying in the various web forums, then understand how to install it (together with any pre-requisite software).  If you aren't used to doing this yourself, find an Open Source friend, or use the forums.  I have found people in the forums very helpful for new comers (newbies).  You can quite often find an old discussion that answers your questions.

Cloud computing - storm front approaching?

Well, we've had a few years of "cloud seeding" with a lot of hype and some reasonable applications.  However, let's think about it a bit.

What is Cloud computing?

For those who may not have heard this term, or haven't found an explanation - here's mine.  Cloud computing is where you are accessing an application or service via the Web and you data resides on their servers.  Usually, all you need is a PC with Internet connectivity and you're off and running.  Sometimes you download some code or the like, but true cloud computing means you should be able to access your service using any PC with Internet connectivity.

The Pro's

If you are an individual or small company, then a service provided via the cloud can be very cost effective.  You do not need to invest in any new hardware or software.  You do not need to worry about backing up your data or disaster recovery (read the Con's before disagreeing).  You can usually scale the service up and down to meet your business needs.  Quite often you can get access to a quality of service that you would not be able to afford.

You get things up and running much quicker than the conventional approach of buy, install, deploy.  You do not need to worry about upgrades or whether you have sufficient licences.

Seems like a pretty sweet deal...

The Con's

A recent (October 2009) incident in the USA has highlighted at least one significant pitfall.  A Telco offered a cloud data storage service via a third party.  The third party was acquired by Microsoft.  The service at some point after the acquisition went "down"... and stayed down.  Yes, that's right.  If your business was relying on accessing this data - say goodnight sweetheart.  It appears that Microsoft has recovered most of the data - some weeks later.  So for those people storing photos and other non-time critical data - fine.

It is harder to integrate cloud services with those on you PC and with other cloud services.  Whilst I am hopeful that some agreed integration standard will be devised - it's not here yet.

What happens if the service provider decides to increase your costs?  At some point they probably will - you just need to have a plan B when they do.  Do you stay with them?  At what point will you "pull the plug".  Indeed, can you pull the plug?

Summing Up

Cloud computing can be of great benefit to smaller organisations - or even larger ones if it is supplying a non-critical service (like on-line training).  If you have a small business and are considering adopting a cloud service, do yourself a favour and see if you can periodically download your data.  Also see what download formats are available, so that the data is easily usable if need be.

I think the Microsoft incident has probably put the brakes on a lot of organisations who were considering taking up cloud computing services.  Perhaps the best way forward is for larger organisations to adopt cloud computing as an internal model within their organisation to reduce the cost of maintaining PC's on everyone's desk - but that's another story.