At my organization, we just finished deployment of custom application to about 200 devices. The application runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional and uses SQL Compact to hold the required offline database. The database holds about five million records in encrypted and indexed databases on a microSD card. The total size of the database is about 2.5 GB. The data was needed offline due to the very remote areas and lack of connectivity at the locations our employees would need access to the data.
The application was quite a learning experience for us and the developer. Getting that much data stored locally on a device was no small feat, and allowing it to be updated over a cellular data network also took some work. On top of that, over a quarter of a million records would be updated in two days, and had to come down to the device.
I know you may be asking, "Why Windows Mobile 6.5"? We wanted to write for only one OS to minimize costs, and with users spread throughout the state, needed an OS on all of the major cell carriers. We also wanted to be able to tether the device to the employee's agency computer, to help save some additional data connection costs. As the developer told us, at the moment, Windows Mobile 6.5 is the only OS capable of handling that much data.
So far the application is working well. We have struggled with database corruption on a few devices, but that is repairable on the device. We also went with Class 4 microSD cards on most of the phones, and those seem to have less issues than the Class 2 cards.
Now Microsoft has cut off SQL Compact on the new Phone 7, so we are examining all possibilities for extending our investment in this application. These have included stocking up on devices, moving to the new Motorola ES400, and researching if any other smartphone operating systems may be able to meet our needs.
I'll continue to post our experiences here. Please post in the comments if you have any questions.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Dell Streak is a Hit
About three weeks ago I hit that magic "upgrade" date with AT&T Wireless on my personal line. I had been researching a number of devices and operating systems, and in the weeks prior had narrowed my choices down to the iPhone 4, Samsung Captivate, and the Dell Streak.
Each had its own pluses and minuses for me. With the iPhone, I had used the iOS since version 3.1, and had gotten to know it pretty well. I also felt I could always get the new iPod Touch 4th Generation for most of what I would get in an iPhone. I really wanted to try Android, and was intrigued by a screen larger than the iPhone's.
The Samsung Captivate looks like an excellent device. I like how thin it is, Android 2.2, and the bright high quality screen. But it does not have a front-facing camera, and I believe video chatting (at least over wifi) will become more popular as well as useful for me before my next "upgrade" date.
The Dell Streak with its 5" screen really interested me. I know it's only running Android 1.6, but the upgrade was promised in about a month. The large screen would be nice, and still pocketable. In fact, after carrying it around, I believe it's as large as you can get and still fit in your pocket. All the reviews seemed good, and I am an avid Google products fan.
So I settled on the Dell Streak, and have been VERY happy with it the last three weeks. There is so much more I can do on Android than the iPhone, like true multitasking, and widgets on the screen for my calendar, tasks, and weather. And the 5" screen is absolutely worth the extra size and weight. I love reading the NY Times and e-books in the Nook app, and web pages in general. My Exchange synchronization is still there in 1.6 with the Touchdown app.
I have also been impressed with the apps in the Market. There's really not much missing from what I used frequently in the iTunes App Store. There really is not nearly the selection of games in the Android Market currently, and I have yet to find an easy way to purchase movies, but again, I can always pick up an iPod Touch 4 for those things that I use much less frequently.
So if you or your organization is looking for a tablet/smartphone device that will still fit in your pocket or a sportcoat pocket, the Dell Streak is an excellent solution.
Each had its own pluses and minuses for me. With the iPhone, I had used the iOS since version 3.1, and had gotten to know it pretty well. I also felt I could always get the new iPod Touch 4th Generation for most of what I would get in an iPhone. I really wanted to try Android, and was intrigued by a screen larger than the iPhone's.
The Samsung Captivate looks like an excellent device. I like how thin it is, Android 2.2, and the bright high quality screen. But it does not have a front-facing camera, and I believe video chatting (at least over wifi) will become more popular as well as useful for me before my next "upgrade" date.
The Dell Streak with its 5" screen really interested me. I know it's only running Android 1.6, but the upgrade was promised in about a month. The large screen would be nice, and still pocketable. In fact, after carrying it around, I believe it's as large as you can get and still fit in your pocket. All the reviews seemed good, and I am an avid Google products fan.
So I settled on the Dell Streak, and have been VERY happy with it the last three weeks. There is so much more I can do on Android than the iPhone, like true multitasking, and widgets on the screen for my calendar, tasks, and weather. And the 5" screen is absolutely worth the extra size and weight. I love reading the NY Times and e-books in the Nook app, and web pages in general. My Exchange synchronization is still there in 1.6 with the Touchdown app.
I have also been impressed with the apps in the Market. There's really not much missing from what I used frequently in the iTunes App Store. There really is not nearly the selection of games in the Android Market currently, and I have yet to find an easy way to purchase movies, but again, I can always pick up an iPod Touch 4 for those things that I use much less frequently.
So if you or your organization is looking for a tablet/smartphone device that will still fit in your pocket or a sportcoat pocket, the Dell Streak is an excellent solution.
Windows Phone 7 Disappoints
I just have to say that I am very disappointed in the new Windows Phone 7. I recently obtained a Samsung Focus in order to test the new OS. First, let me say that I was very pleased with the Focus. Samsung made a very solid and thin device, with a responsive touchscreen and decent battery life. The hardware is great.
Regarding Phone 7, let me just say, I'm not using it anymore for a number of reasons:
1. No capability to synchronize my Tasks on the Exchange server (and no app that would allow me to add the functionality).
I can do this today on my iOS device. I can do it on my Android device. I can even do it on a webOS device. And I can do it on any Windows Mobile 5.x and 6.x device. Why I can't do it on a Microsoft Phone 7 device, I have no idea.
2. No Microsoft Office Communicator client.
Some in our organization live on this mobile client on their smartphones. The presence information, and live chat is a critical tool. I can use Communicator on my iOS device, my Android device, and of course any Windows Mobile 6.x device. Why I can't use it on a Microsoft Phone 7 device upon release, I cannot figure out. I even posted this in the Microsoft Support forums, and was told this would be out sometime next year.
For these two reasons alone, I don't see where this device has a fit for us. The interface is *nice*, and the tiles on the home screen can be handy at times. However, when I or our employees need to add a Task while mobile, or need to open a chat with a coworker, I can't use it.
Why Microsoft wouldn't have these available upon release, I cannot figure out.
I also have some minor things that are just frustrating: The settings are very sparse, no copy and paste, and a simple search for an app in the app store brings up ten times as many songs in the list as apps. I don't want songs, and I can't figure out a way to filter the search.
I should explain that I am looking at this from a business point of view. I am not a Xbox gamer. It appears like they have some great Xbox tie-ins, and some great games available for the phone.
But I am left shaking my head. I have been a Windows Mobile fan for years, for its capabilities and integration with our Microsoft products. I cannot figure out how they thought this operating system would position them to compete with Android or iPhone. It looks to me like it's trying to catch up, and falls short of the finish line.
Why would most people walk past an iPhone to pick up one of these devices at the same price, or even if they tried it, why would they want to keep it when an iPhone is capable of so much more? Why pay the same or more for Phone 7 when there are so many exciting Android devices available with great capabilities?
I can't find any reasons. I have since gone back to my Windows Mobile 6.5 device for my Tasks and Communicator Mobile client.
Regarding Phone 7, let me just say, I'm not using it anymore for a number of reasons:
1. No capability to synchronize my Tasks on the Exchange server (and no app that would allow me to add the functionality).
I can do this today on my iOS device. I can do it on my Android device. I can even do it on a webOS device. And I can do it on any Windows Mobile 5.x and 6.x device. Why I can't do it on a Microsoft Phone 7 device, I have no idea.
2. No Microsoft Office Communicator client.
Some in our organization live on this mobile client on their smartphones. The presence information, and live chat is a critical tool. I can use Communicator on my iOS device, my Android device, and of course any Windows Mobile 6.x device. Why I can't use it on a Microsoft Phone 7 device upon release, I cannot figure out. I even posted this in the Microsoft Support forums, and was told this would be out sometime next year.
For these two reasons alone, I don't see where this device has a fit for us. The interface is *nice*, and the tiles on the home screen can be handy at times. However, when I or our employees need to add a Task while mobile, or need to open a chat with a coworker, I can't use it.
Why Microsoft wouldn't have these available upon release, I cannot figure out.
I also have some minor things that are just frustrating: The settings are very sparse, no copy and paste, and a simple search for an app in the app store brings up ten times as many songs in the list as apps. I don't want songs, and I can't figure out a way to filter the search.
I should explain that I am looking at this from a business point of view. I am not a Xbox gamer. It appears like they have some great Xbox tie-ins, and some great games available for the phone.
But I am left shaking my head. I have been a Windows Mobile fan for years, for its capabilities and integration with our Microsoft products. I cannot figure out how they thought this operating system would position them to compete with Android or iPhone. It looks to me like it's trying to catch up, and falls short of the finish line.
Why would most people walk past an iPhone to pick up one of these devices at the same price, or even if they tried it, why would they want to keep it when an iPhone is capable of so much more? Why pay the same or more for Phone 7 when there are so many exciting Android devices available with great capabilities?
I can't find any reasons. I have since gone back to my Windows Mobile 6.5 device for my Tasks and Communicator Mobile client.
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