January 2006 - Posts

The Mobile Minute 130
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PostedWednesday, January 25, 2006 4:06 PM by Nino

Wow.. what a week.  Now that Code Camp is over, I can de-stress a bit (but not much – heh) as I’ve got a full queue of items to crank out by end of week / beginning of next week for work (hence the lack of posts).  Some things to look for from me over the next few weeks, – a review of my new notebook mouse, a review of a new-ish restaurant I took my wife to for her birthday last night, updates to my Emulator connectivity without activesync post (hopefully I’ll finally get the screencast of this looking decent so I can post it, too), some additional screencasts, and the start of a project code-named Silver Harvest.

Software / Hardware

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My presentation materials from Code Camp
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PostedMonday, January 23, 2006 7:26 PM by Nino

I have uploaded my presentation materials from Code Camp.  Pull them down if you are interested.  There were no materials from my Smart Device / Mobility Architecture whiteboard talk, only the WM5.0 / .NET CF 2.0 talk.

Thanks again to the folks who attended my sessions and thanks to the folks who put together the Dayton-Cincinnati Code Camp (namely Jim Holmes and James Avery) for having me.

If you missed some sessions, check out all the other presenter's materials here.

-Nino

Internet Connectivity from WM5.0 Emulator *without* ActiveSync
PostedFriday, January 20, 2006 11:42 AM by Nino

I've been asked a few times recently about setting up Internet connectivity with the WM5.0 emulator;  I usually point people to this post: http://blogs.msdn.com/akhune/archive/2005/11/16/493329.aspx .  However, if you want to do it without ActiveSync..

Update: In reponse to a few comments, I have updated some of the steps, and added a disclaimer:

-This solution is neither recommended nor supported by Microsoft (although I got it to work and use it frequently)
-I take no responsibility for the state of your emulators before, during, or after you implement this configuration
-For best results, I suggest that you have only once instance of Visual Studio 2005 open and that you hard-reset your emulator (being certain to purge any saved state) after every configuration change.


1.Install the Virtual Machine Network Driver for Microsoft Device Emulator.

2. In Visual Studio 2005, open Tools>Options. Select Device Tools >
Devices. Then select the 'Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Emulator' and click the Properteies button

3. Change Transport in the Emulator properties to 'TCP Connect Transport'.  Then click the 'Configure' button. You can then set an IP address (one valid for your network); although I have found that the emulator retrieves one on its own from from DHCP, if that is available.  Additionally, I have found that if you leave the IP as 127.0.0.1, you may be unable to deploy.

4. Click the Emulator Options button. In the Emulator Properties dialog that opens, select the Network tab. Make certain that the 'Enable NE2000  PCMCIA network adapter and bind to:" box is checked and that you have selected the correct network adapter of your computer.

5. OK your way out of these dialogs

6. Start the emulator.  Start > Settings > Network Cards  

7. Tap NE2000 Compatible Ethernet Driver. Select either 'Connected network card" or one of the adapters listed [that has a valid network connection].  Tap OK (and tap OK on the dialog that comes up).

8. Make certain that the 'My network card connects to:" drop-down is set to 'The Internet'

9. Clear any saved state from the emulator and hard-reset it.

10. Open up Internet Explorer Mobile and enter your URL...

-Nino

Jim says ... Dayton-Cincinnati Code Camp is *sold out* !!!
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PostedThursday, January 19, 2006 3:20 PM by Nino

Whoa!   All 200 slots for the Dayton-Cincinnati Code Camp are sold out!  See the post by Jim Holmes.   This is awesome!  I'm stoked to see this response from our community.  

Given that Code Camp is on Saturday, I suppose I should start putting together my presentation and demos, eh?  Heh.  Just kidding.  They're done (or nearly so, just a few code tweaks..).

-Nino

MSN Spaces MetaWeblog API account lockouts
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PostedTuesday, January 17, 2006 9:08 AM by Nino

As part of one of my Code Camp presentations, I am going to build a photo-blogging app (using the construction of this app to illustrate new features in WM5.0 and .NET CF 2.0). Well, one of the two services I am building support for (for the presentation) is MSN Spaces (and for the curious, I plan to further develop this app after the presentation to make it something substantial).  So, I created a MSN Space and got started working against their API (MetaWeblog). 

Guess what? I fudged the password a few times so my account is now locked out for twenty-four hours..with no way to reset it.  I was receiving 'Access Denied' and wasn't certain what was causing it so I headed to the MSDN Forums and found someone with the same issue.  Here's the thread with Dare Obasanjo's reply I agree with some other posters that the lockout period needs to be shortened, or there there needs to be some means for the space owner to reset it. 

-Nino

The Mobile Minute 129
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PostedMonday, January 16, 2006 7:53 PM by Nino

Code Camp on Saturday!   

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New Year's um, er....goals
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PostedWednesday, January 11, 2006 8:27 PM by Nino

I thought I'd write up some goals that I have for this year:

  • Continue using the Getting Things Done model.  I got into this about mid-year last year (and somewhat half-hearted, I might add), then picked it up with diligence in the fall and I'm going strong. 

  • Continue working towards a healthier lifestyle.  When I had my 30-something birthday in November, I took the opportunity to reflect on how non-optimal my diet and amount of exercise were.  Since then, I've been eating healthier (more veggies, less meat, etc) and getting the concept of "portion control" into my wee little head. Now, that's not to say that I'm on a strict diet.  Not at all. It's about making smart choices the majority of the time.  I still enjoy food (oh, make no mistake).   The second component of this is getting out of my chair and getting some physical excercise.  I've been working from home for the last few months and I've gotten quite sedentary.  I wake up in the morning and walk ten feet to my office (yes, a shower happens in this timeline); I then spend the next twelve or so hours (sans trips to the bathroom or the kitchen) with my *** parked in my Aeron chair.  I need to stop that.  Of course, it's all been great that I've got a good thing started with my diet while at home; the hard part will be keeping this up when I go back on the road shortly.

  • Demonstrate thought leadership.  How?
    • Get published. Be it MSDN, CodeProject, or some other venue, I would like get at least one article published this year.  My problem is that I don't think I have anything worthwhile to write. Some of my friends are correcting that perception (thanks, friends).  Of course, I will also be publishing articles on my blog (i.e. not long blog post, but real articles), which brings me to...
    • Continue participation in public forums.  I started getting involved in the microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.compactframework and microsoft.public.pocketpc.developer  newsgroups in the early fall last year.  I need to maintain (and quite possibly increase a bit) my level of involvement.
    • Speak. Enough said.
    • Better leverage this site and this weblog.  Part of that means making it a more presentable and useful place...

  • Spend more time outside.  Some days, I go out to get the mail and I have a "whoa, this is what the outside is like" moment. Quite sad.  I think that this goal segues nicely with the second bullet point.  I miss the outside. Even when it's cold.

  • Read some non-fiction. I used to be a voracious reader.  Now all I read is technical material.

  • Have a life.  Creating (and maintaining) a more solid boundary between work and home is a must for my sanity and my marriage.  This gets real tough when you're on the road five (or more) days a week.  For most of 2004 and the beginning of 2005 I did a very poor job of creating said boundary (and there were repurcussions). Although, I can't say I did a great of job maintaining that boundary while I've been working from home on this DE project.  Overall, I think that this will be the hardest goal to achieve.  As a consultant, it is imperative to stay sharp with my skills and to "push the envelope".  Achieving such a high level of competency and meeting challenging customer demands can certainly conflict with "having a life".  It comes down to being an adroit individual in balancing the demands placed upon me by myself and by others.

It's going to be a good year - I can feel it.

-Nino

The Mobile Minute 128
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PostedTuesday, January 10, 2006 12:21 AM by Nino

Registered for the Dayton-Cincinnati Code Camp?  I didn't think so.  You can do it right here.  Easy. :-)   It's 11 days away...

Software / Hardware 

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The Mobile Minute 127
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PostedSunday, January 08, 2006 12:15 PM by Nino

I’ll spare you the plethora of CES links in this quick weekend edition…   

I suppose I should be excited about the Bengals in the playoff game today, but the reality is that I’m not. I’m just not that much of an American Football fan (and when I do watch, I cheer for the Cleveland Browns).  Although it is about six months out, I’m stoked about the World Cup, where I'll be watching Group E with great interest.  Group E has both teams that I cheer for(figure it out).

Software / Hardware 

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In Other News . . .

-Nino

How To: Create a dial-up network connection over Blueooth [with a Qtek 9100]
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PostedSunday, January 08, 2006 1:24 AM by Nino

A co-worker inquired today about how to create a dial-up networking connection over Bluetooth with his Qtek 9100...here's the info:

The Short Version:
After you pair the devices, open the properties on the of the Pocket PC device on your desktop BT connection.  Check the services for that device and select the Dial-up networking (DUN) service.  After you have done this, Windows will add a new modem item, then you can create a new network connection using the BT connection.

The Long Version:  (again, this assumes you have already paired your device to your desktop/laptop as well as having a data plan configured through your mobile operator)

1)  Open your BT properties and select the correct device (here, I am selecting my Qtek 9100 Windows Mobile Pocket PC); click Properties.


View BT devices

 

2) On the properties dialog, select the Services tab.  Check the DUN box and click apply.

 Select DUN service

3) Windows will now add a new modem

Windows add new hardware


4) Once Windows has added the new modem, it will assign a COM port.  At this point, you may click OK to exit the properties dialog and the BT devices dialog.

COM port assigned

 

5) Now that we have added the , we need to add a new network connection to use it.  Open your Network Connections and select ‘Create a new connection’. The wizard will open – click Next.

Start the Network Connection Wizard

6) The wizard prompts for the Network Connection Type – Select “Connect to the Internet” and click Next.

Select Internet type

7) Select “Set up my connection manually” and click Next.

Network Connection setup manual setup

8) Select “Connect using a dial-up modem”; click Next.

Network Connection Wizard - Connection type

9) We now need to select the device that this connection will use; we want to pick the Standard Modem over Bluetooth that we just added. (In this case it is modem on COM35) – Click Next.

Select Device

10) We now need to give the connection a name – I chose “T-Mobile (BT)”.  I added the “BT” to distinguish it because I also have another connection setup for T-Mobile on USB.

Connection Name

11) We now need to set the phone number to dial.  In this case we are setting up a GPRS/EDGE connection, so we enter *99#.  Click Next.

Network Connection Wizard - Phone Number

12) As a user running as non-admin, the only option I have here is “My use only”; if I were running as admin (not recommended), I could set this connection up for all users.  Click Next.

Network Connection Wizard - Connection Availability

13) It now wants us to enter account information.  If you need to enter credentials, do so and click Next.  For T-Mobile (USA), I do not need to enter any credentials, so I just click Next.

Network Connection Wizard - Account Info

14) The connection is now set up; added a shortcut to your desktop if you like.  Click Finish.

Network Connection Wizard - Complete

15) Back to the Network Connections screen we see (in the red rectangle) our new T-Mobile Bluetooth connection. Double-click it and we’ll see the connect dialog as below.  As I mentioned earlier, I do not need to enter any credentials, so I can just click Dial.

Connect to BT connection

16) When Windows connects, you should see a notification bubble.   That’s it!
BTConnected

To disconnect, you can simply right-click on the connection icon in your notification area and select ‘Disconnect” from the context menu.

-Nino

The Mobile Minute 126
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PostedWednesday, January 04, 2006 10:43 PM by Nino

Easing back into things....

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