Thursday - The Long Weekend
Here we are, at the beginning (well almost) of a nice long weekend!
Push Email
I currently have a Nokia E61 which has served me well and seams to do everything I need. However, I am getting itchy feet and looking at possible alternatives. My main issue is getting a 'Push' email device. This has lead me to look into the market and uncover a few interesting facts.
The first of which is the busting of the popular myth of the all powerful Blackberry as the best push email device in town. A friend of mine (who incidentally works for RIM) has convinced me what a great device they are, particularly the new 8800. However, if you are individual user (like me) you do not have the benefit of a BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) sitting there 'Pushing' out all your emails. Instead you have the BIS (Blackberry Internet Service) option. This POLLS you accounts (about every 15 min) to check for new email which it then sends out to your device. Correct me if I am wrong but this is NOT 'Push' email.
There is a lot of advice on sites like BlackberryForums.org to get round this problem but they are work arounds not solutions. Of course RIM are improving there services and now you can get true 'Push' on your Gmail or Yahoo accounts but again this is forcing me to use a particular service which doesn't suit my other needs (I currently have a Fusemail account which offers IMAP functionality and IMAP-Idle).
The second solution, gaining popularity, is a Windows Mobile Device. But again if you look at the small print you must have a Windows 2003 sever sitting there 'Pushing' the emails out to your device, making it useless to an individual user.
There are other solutions out there but these rely on the user having IMAP-Idle, a service not offered by may ISP's as standard (The only one I know who offers IMAP as standard is AOL, then you have to deal with their awful software!). My existing Nokia E61 is working well and, after two software updates, is maintaining a connection to my IMAP server properly.
The only other option I can find in to move over to a Palm Treo device. Having looked at a Treo 750 I can't see how I could actually type on it and would probably find myself using the stylus input which defeats the point of a device with a keyboard! However, when combined with the ChatterMail software offers Push email via IMAP-Idle. The only problem with anything other than a Blackberry if the potentially huge data costs of maintaining a open connection.
So, having reviewed my options, I think I am better off sticking with what I have got, until something new hits the market.
Apple
Being a avid followed of Mac related news I have been keeping my eye on the upcoming iPhone but have so far found no details about the standards it will be compatible with, eg will it be able to use my IMAP-Idle account to give me Push email? So, I will be reserving opinion until I get some more detailed specs.
I have been looking into the Apple TV and so far it all looks good to me. With sites like AppleTV Hacks it seems anything is possible!
Study
I am about to reach the halfway point of my latest module of my ongoing Masters course. Having gone through the 'am I waisting my time?' point I am now back to being positive about the course and am trying to take my ideas in new directions. I am currently looking into the area of Cyber-Psychology as a way to combine both my interests in Psychology and Computers. I also find the whole area of Artificial Intelligence, both exciting and worrying at the same time, visions of 2001: A Space Odyssey spring to mind.
Push Email
I currently have a Nokia E61 which has served me well and seams to do everything I need. However, I am getting itchy feet and looking at possible alternatives. My main issue is getting a 'Push' email device. This has lead me to look into the market and uncover a few interesting facts.
The first of which is the busting of the popular myth of the all powerful Blackberry as the best push email device in town. A friend of mine (who incidentally works for RIM) has convinced me what a great device they are, particularly the new 8800. However, if you are individual user (like me) you do not have the benefit of a BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) sitting there 'Pushing' out all your emails. Instead you have the BIS (Blackberry Internet Service) option. This POLLS you accounts (about every 15 min) to check for new email which it then sends out to your device. Correct me if I am wrong but this is NOT 'Push' email.
There is a lot of advice on sites like BlackberryForums.org to get round this problem but they are work arounds not solutions. Of course RIM are improving there services and now you can get true 'Push' on your Gmail or Yahoo accounts but again this is forcing me to use a particular service which doesn't suit my other needs (I currently have a Fusemail account which offers IMAP functionality and IMAP-Idle).
The second solution, gaining popularity, is a Windows Mobile Device. But again if you look at the small print you must have a Windows 2003 sever sitting there 'Pushing' the emails out to your device, making it useless to an individual user.
There are other solutions out there but these rely on the user having IMAP-Idle, a service not offered by may ISP's as standard (The only one I know who offers IMAP as standard is AOL, then you have to deal with their awful software!). My existing Nokia E61 is working well and, after two software updates, is maintaining a connection to my IMAP server properly.
The only other option I can find in to move over to a Palm Treo device. Having looked at a Treo 750 I can't see how I could actually type on it and would probably find myself using the stylus input which defeats the point of a device with a keyboard! However, when combined with the ChatterMail software offers Push email via IMAP-Idle. The only problem with anything other than a Blackberry if the potentially huge data costs of maintaining a open connection.
So, having reviewed my options, I think I am better off sticking with what I have got, until something new hits the market.
Apple
Being a avid followed of Mac related news I have been keeping my eye on the upcoming iPhone but have so far found no details about the standards it will be compatible with, eg will it be able to use my IMAP-Idle account to give me Push email? So, I will be reserving opinion until I get some more detailed specs.
I have been looking into the Apple TV and so far it all looks good to me. With sites like AppleTV Hacks it seems anything is possible!
Study
I am about to reach the halfway point of my latest module of my ongoing Masters course. Having gone through the 'am I waisting my time?' point I am now back to being positive about the course and am trying to take my ideas in new directions. I am currently looking into the area of Cyber-Psychology as a way to combine both my interests in Psychology and Computers. I also find the whole area of Artificial Intelligence, both exciting and worrying at the same time, visions of 2001: A Space Odyssey spring to mind.
