I’ve been happily using my Pocket PC to sync with Exchange for sometime but today my Loox refused to connect to my secure wireless point, it just kept say "connecting". After some head scratching I finally noticed that the adapter had "lost" the WAP key. Now since I keep forgetting how to set this I thought I’d write it down. Wireless Settings->Adapter (click on it whilst WLAN is off).
Pocket PC
Pocket PC, car navigation
Managed to get hold of Navigon Navigator 5 software from ebay the other day, since I can’t buy the UK version from Navigon. Stuck the SD card in and installed the CAB. After about 30mins of struggling it to see the integrated GPS unit I finally persuaded it by resetting the PDA, rebooting to fix a problem isn’t a desktop only phenomenon. So what’s it like? I decided to test it on the local shopping run. It decided to take me there via the motorways but hey, I guess it will prefer to do that. The instructions were clear with each major changed prompted at least twice (with distance to manoeuvre) giving you plenty of time to make the change. So I got to the car park with no problems, apart from one set of traffic lights it didn’t tell me about. On the trip back I decided to take the b-roads. It gave me directions back to the motorway but as soon as it realised I’d missed its suggested turn, it quickly re-routed me via the road I was now on, "that was nice".
Next stage is to buy a TMC (traffic avoidance) cable and really put this navigation software through its paces.
Pocket PC as a network media player
The Pocket PC is now nearing total domination and has become a network music player.
The major problem is that Mobile Media Player won’t look at network drivers. However, after reading a very helpful article I installed the Net Use application which successfully fooled Media Player into seeing a network drive as a local folder. While there I also read about a Coding4Fun project getting the PDA to ‘remote control’ your media library, includes all the .net source code too. Could be fun.
[Edit] Ah, talked too soon. Although media player can see, and catalogues, the tracks it won’t play them, ‘Invalid Parameter’ or something. Apparently some issue with the the translation of the file name. So I’m now looking at the Coding4Fun project and I’ve just installed the Mobile SDK so I’ll see how that goes.
[Edit] Hurray, using the PocketMusic player seemed to do the trick. Not sure it’s a replacement for dedicated media machine but it’s certainly small and quiet, good qualities in a music streamer…plus it’s it own remote…although I’m now eyeing up using the Mac’s front-row remote control via the PDA infrared port. For something that is supposed to save me time it seems to be creating project upon project!
Pocket PC, finally it works
Well things have finally moved on. My Pocket PC is now directly synchronizing with Exchange Server. Since this done via a wireless connection I now have no need for a host PC…hurray! I did have a slight set back with installing the necessary certificates to the PDA. I’d read a few sites explaining how to download special install software but all failed for various reasons. Until I found one site that state you simply click on the certificate! Yes it worked a treat.
The next (ahem) step was go for a GPS walk. I’ve registered with a site, GPS Walk, that supplied a breadcrumb application for the PDA. The application (and site) are still in their early days but it was a strangely fun thing to do, might have something to do with the two pubs I took in…you never know.
The third PDA success was a programmable remote control. There something satisfying with been able to change the TV channel with your PDA, surely there is some mischief to be had with the companies infrared controlled projector?
This leaves me with two remained tasks to be solved. 1. GPS for the car with traffic avoidance (TMC) and 2. Streaming MPGs to my stereo from a main server via the PDA.
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