[wplug] Re: Linux PDA-phones with sync

[Bryan J Smith]

The Palm/Pilot sctuff is pretty well open, and select Linux PDAs implement some of it for sync.
GNOME Evolution is far superior to MS Outlook and has been for a half-decade IMHO.
I've learned to cope without the direct sync between my Treo 600 series (I used the Kyocera 6000/7100 before it).

Now I do have to say the RIM (Blackberry) does offer great value for what you pay for.
Especially the wide availability of unlocked GSM models (and tougher than Treos), low service costs and 3rd party on-line sync.
I mean, for the cost of basic IP access, their push approach and the service model is very sound.
I have Evolution partially working to two third party sync sites that I also sync with my Blackberry.
I just sure wish RIM was more open, because they already make their money on the service, and MS Exchange customers.

Furthermore, and not to tangent, MS Exchange is not a true collaboration back-end, but more of only a store.
It doesn't do actual scheduling or resolution, and relys on the MS Outlook (or other MAPI) client or RIM services/middleware.
There are far better, enterprise collaboration systems, and I don't mean the ones that merely do web, iCalendar or provide a MAPI connector.
Those are still storage-only with connector, and require a "fat" client for the "brains."
I'm not a fan of peer-to-peer collaboration and scheduling systems, and I don't want web-only either.
Precisely because I have a Smartphone that is light on interface, and I can't be launching a browser.

I'm talking about systems like SKYRiX open architecture, with its 3-tier storage + connector + the all-important middleware.
You need the last to do true collaboration between a multitude of connectors and translations.
And that's why and how SKYRiX supports more than just a MAPI connector and web, but direct Palm.NET, native Evolution, etc... as well.
99% of "Exchange replacements" are nothing more than a proprietary store with connector and "fat" web client.
Even most of the other Freedomware groupware, sans OpenGroupware.ORG (SKYRiX) is "dumb open store" with a MAPI connector and "fat" web client.


--  
Bryan J Smith - mailto:b.j.smith at ieee.org  
http://thebs413.blogspot.com  
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile  
    

-----Original Message-----
From: Drew from Zhrodague <drew at zhrodague.net>

Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 13:12:19 
To:General user list <wplug at wplug.org>
Subject: Re: [wplug] Re: Linux PDA-phones with sync


> I'm nursing along my Treo 650, and closing my eyes and ears whenever
> the iPhones ads come on, until I can find a decent Linux phone.  I
> have high hopes for the OpenMoko, supposedly to be released in
> October.  The RAZR2 might be also be OK.  Hopefully, all kinds of sync
> applications will be possible since they'll be open.

 	Question is, what to sync *to*? There aren't really any unified 
PIM applications, or (functional?) framework for doing so (that I know 
about).

 	Personally, I'd like to use a PIM software to manage tasks, 
calendar, and addressbook stuff -- and publish some of that stuff onto the 
web with rules on how to do so. Microsoft Outlook still doesn't do those 
things without drinking the kool-aid, and it still vastly misses the mark. 
Nesting tasks, anyone? As it is, my old Nokia 3650 is prolly the one of 
the most capable phones out there, but the software on it is old, lacking, 
poorly writen, and non-upgradable. I don't know what to do for a new phone 
-- and I'm long overdue.

 	The Jesusphone sounds nice, but I'll wait until the hackers break 
it open, add a cardslot, support Java, or *something* with GNU/Linux. UI 
is a great idea, but the thing is still pretty lacking, just like all the 
other phones out there.

 	I am really sick of the poor excuse for (software on mobile) 
phones that have been on the market. We have had the technology for 
*years* to build something usable, functional, and interesting. I'm 
wondering why the carriers still hate their users!

 	Otherwise, I enjoy working for phone-development startups. Lots of 
them have really neat ideas, but it is really hard to get some of those 
ideas into widespread adoption -- because the carriers don't want you to 
have those features. Verizon said 'no' to Apple because they wanted to 
charge for every feature possible. I can't wait until that mentality 
stops, and actual innovation can be free to experiment. WiFi will help 
allow that blah blah blah ad nauseum.

 	Okay, okay. I'll shut up and go cut more hardibacker =_)

-- 

Drew from Zhrodague		http://www.WiFiMaps.com
drew at zhrodague.net		http://www.pghwireless.net
 				http://www.zhrodague.net/~drew

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