Comments on: Impressions of the Palm Pre http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre Technology Advisors to Nonprofits and Educational Institutions Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Robert http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1672 Robert Sun, 09 May 2010 17:47:59 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1672 Quentin, Wow, you've had a rough time of it. I've found the (U.S.) tech support for the Pre (a special number for Verizon customers) to be quite good -- although I've sometimes had to escalate my calls to senior techs. I totally agree about the lack of search. It's a huge omission. I installed Google Calendar Search via the app catalog and don't know whether it's possible to share apps installed that way. Here's more info on it http://www.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/google-calendar-search and here's the developer's web site: http://software.vivalv.de/Main_Page Maybe they can help. My sync via Google has been working lately. I also tried The Missing Sync but it also requires wi-fi to work. I'm hoping someone will release a sync tool that will work via the USB cable. Many hotels will not let you connect two devices to their wi-fi networks, which makes it an unreliable way to sync. I've also found Evernote to be sketchy. Sometimes it refused to open on the Pre. I'm still looking for a reliable way to sync my notes. I don't see why sync was so easy on the Treo (and Palm Pilot, etc.) and so hard now. Robert Quentin,

Wow, you’ve had a rough time of it. I’ve found the (U.S.) tech support for the Pre (a special number for Verizon customers) to be quite good — although I’ve sometimes had to escalate my calls to senior techs.

I totally agree about the lack of search. It’s a huge omission. I installed Google Calendar Search via the app catalog and don’t know whether it’s possible to share apps installed that way. Here’s more info on it
http://www.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/google-calendar-search
and here’s the developer’s web site:
http://software.vivalv.de/Main_Page
Maybe they can help.

My sync via Google has been working lately. I also tried The Missing Sync but it also requires wi-fi to work. I’m hoping someone will release a sync tool that will work via the USB cable. Many hotels will not let you connect two devices to their wi-fi networks, which makes it an unreliable way to sync.

I’ve also found Evernote to be sketchy. Sometimes it refused to open on the Pre. I’m still looking for a reliable way to sync my notes.

I don’t see why sync was so easy on the Treo (and Palm Pilot, etc.) and so hard now.

Robert

]]> By: Quentin http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1671 Quentin Sun, 09 May 2010 10:53:43 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1671 I bought my Palm Pre a couple of months ago. At first I simply didn't understand it; not only that but I was in Mumbai (I live in Sydney) and a lot of the time was using 'roaming', and uploaded/downloaded (whatever) my Calendar (around 400) and Contacts (about 2000!) to Google, thence to the Pre, also DIRECT to the Pre, managing to double eveything up, deleted the Pre info, etc etc and ended up with a massive phone bill. Didn't understand the 'data' business either: Actually I made a total balls up of the whole business. So finally came to understand it, and due to a friend's remarks about not putting my life in the hands of the Internet; or The Cloud; decided to use PocketMirror by Chapura and sync to Outlook on my laptop. All did not go so well; PocketMirror seemed quite capable at sync to the Pre, but vice-versa seemed problematic. Went on with this for a week or so, then one momentous day I said 'darn it' (words like that..) and decided to go with The Cloud. So I put the whole lot back to Google. The upside is that syncing is in the background: it's invisible and it's great. Also with both my Google and my Yahoo email addresses, it just happens, and that's that. Frankly for carefree syncing there's absolutely nothing like it at all! The HUGE downside is that Calendar/Contacts in the Pre has NO PROPER SEARCH FUNCTION! It needs screaming out to the universe, how could Palm DO that?? And just to pile on the woes, I've tried to download 'Google Calendar Search' for the Pre, but cannot because the yanks have decided we're not civilized enough in Australia. [+61] Or something. Can anybody email me a copy, is that possible? To quent1n@bigfoot.com? On the whole I love my Palm Pre. My second complaint however, is that Palm is the most unhelpful company I have ever dealt with. Their chat line has worked just once in 18 tries! NO exageration. As for their telephone help, they CHARGE even though my phone is brand new. They make me feel like a pariah, not a customer. Their service is without equal @ 0/10. Pity. I bought my Palm Pre a couple of months ago. At first I simply didn’t understand it; not only that but I was in Mumbai (I live in Sydney) and a lot of the time was using ‘roaming’, and uploaded/downloaded (whatever) my Calendar (around 400) and Contacts (about 2000!) to Google, thence to the Pre, also DIRECT to the Pre, managing to double eveything up, deleted the Pre info, etc etc and ended up with a massive phone bill. Didn’t understand the ‘data’ business either: Actually I made a total balls up of the whole business.
So finally came to understand it, and due to a friend’s remarks about not putting my life in the hands of the Internet; or The Cloud; decided to use PocketMirror by Chapura and sync to Outlook on my laptop.
All did not go so well; PocketMirror seemed quite capable at sync to the Pre, but vice-versa seemed problematic. Went on with this for a week or so, then one momentous day I said ‘darn it’ (words like that..) and decided to go with The Cloud. So I put the whole lot back to Google.
The upside is that syncing is in the background: it’s invisible and it’s great. Also with both my Google and my Yahoo email addresses, it just happens, and that’s that. Frankly for carefree syncing there’s absolutely nothing like it at all!
The HUGE downside is that Calendar/Contacts in the Pre has NO PROPER SEARCH FUNCTION! It needs screaming out to the universe, how could Palm DO that?? And just to pile on the woes, I’ve tried to download ‘Google Calendar Search’ for the Pre, but cannot because the yanks have decided we’re not civilized enough in Australia. [+61] Or something.
Can anybody email me a copy, is that possible? To quent1n@bigfoot.com?
On the whole I love my Palm Pre.
My second complaint however, is that Palm is the most unhelpful company I have ever dealt with. Their chat line has worked just once in 18 tries! NO exageration. As for their telephone help, they CHARGE even though my phone is brand new. They make me feel like a pariah, not a customer. Their service is without equal @ 0/10. Pity.

]]> By: Robert L. Weiner Consulting » A Month with the Palm Pre http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1638 Robert L. Weiner Consulting » A Month with the Palm Pre Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:49:01 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1638 [...] had my Palm Pre Plus for a little over a month now.  I wrote up my initial impressions after having it for a week.  Overall, I love it except for Outlook [...] [...] had my Palm Pre Plus for a little over a month now.  I wrote up my initial impressions after having it for a week.  Overall, I love it except for Outlook [...]

]]> By: Robert http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1628 Robert Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:36:26 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1628 I'm still struggling with the sync issue. I thought Companionlink was the ticket -- it sure looked promising. But I found that calendar events that I delete or move were not being picked up by the Pre. I talked to tech support and was told that this is a know problem caused by having too many deleted items in Outlook. Their suggestion was to delete (or archive) all but 1 week's worth of deleted items. This seems dubious, since Google Calendar Sync had no trouble picking up the changed and deleted events. I did as instructed but it made no difference. I'm awaiting follow-up from tech support. But my evaluation trial period is over, so this might be the end of the line for them. I tested gSyncIt, which worked well for my calendar, but doesn't sync notes. Nonetheless, it might be part of the solution. I installed Evernote to sync notes and it's acceptable. I'm now experimenting with Go Contact Sync to sync contacts. If Companionlink proves unworkable I'm going to have to use Google as part of the solution -- both gSyncIt and Go Contact Sync use Google to reach the Pre. I've removed the confidential data from my private contacts, so this is no longer a dealbreaker. I’m still struggling with the sync issue. I thought Companionlink was the ticket — it sure looked promising. But I found that calendar events that I delete or move were not being picked up by the Pre. I talked to tech support and was told that this is a know problem caused by having too many deleted items in Outlook. Their suggestion was to delete (or archive) all but 1 week’s worth of deleted items. This seems dubious, since Google Calendar Sync had no trouble picking up the changed and deleted events. I did as instructed but it made no difference. I’m awaiting follow-up from tech support. But my evaluation trial period is over, so this might be the end of the line for them.

I tested gSyncIt, which worked well for my calendar, but doesn’t sync notes. Nonetheless, it might be part of the solution.

I installed Evernote to sync notes and it’s acceptable.

I’m now experimenting with Go Contact Sync to sync contacts.

If Companionlink proves unworkable I’m going to have to use Google as part of the solution — both gSyncIt and Go Contact Sync use Google to reach the Pre. I’ve removed the confidential data from my private contacts, so this is no longer a dealbreaker.

]]> By: Robert http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1626 Robert Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:35:10 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1626 Thanks, Don. I agree that multitasking capability is great, but it hasn't figured hugely into my life in the first week of use. I've been focusing more on getting individual apps to work. I've been playing with the back gesture more. I think the problem was caused by my having turned on the Advanced Gestures option (under Screen & Lock setup). That allowed me to gesture anywhere on the screen. But apparently when it's on you can only swipe halfway across the gesture area to move back within a single app. Sliding all the way across the gesture area allowed me to move back to another open app (e.g., swap from an open web browser to an open calendar window) but not to move back within an app. I've turned that feature off. Thanks, Don. I agree that multitasking capability is great, but it hasn’t figured hugely into my life in the first week of use. I’ve been focusing more on getting individual apps to work.

I’ve been playing with the back gesture more. I think the problem was caused by my having turned on the Advanced Gestures option (under Screen & Lock setup). That allowed me to gesture anywhere on the screen. But apparently when it’s on you can only swipe halfway across the gesture area to move back within a single app. Sliding all the way across the gesture area allowed me to move back to another open app (e.g., swap from an open web browser to an open calendar window) but not to move back within an app. I’ve turned that feature off.

]]> By: Don http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1625 Don Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:37:39 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1625 I appreciate the candid review of the Pre. I got the original Pre through Sprint on launch day and am still using (and loving) it. I can't really say your review was inaccurate. However, I don't think you captured all that the Pre excels in. You didn't say anything about multitasking (other than mentioning that it exists in your Pro section.) You also didn't say anything about the unobtrusive messaging system that various apps can employ. The Pre is also just plain simple to use (at least compared to Android and WinMo devices.) By the way, I'm surprised the back gesture seems so finicky for you. At least on the Sprint phone there isn't that need to stop in the middle. I appreciate the candid review of the Pre. I got the original Pre through Sprint on launch day and am still using (and loving) it. I can’t really say your review was inaccurate. However, I don’t think you captured all that the Pre excels in. You didn’t say anything about multitasking (other than mentioning that it exists in your Pro section.) You also didn’t say anything about the unobtrusive messaging system that various apps can employ. The Pre is also just plain simple to use (at least compared to Android and WinMo devices.)

By the way, I’m surprised the back gesture seems so finicky for you. At least on the Sprint phone there isn’t that need to stop in the middle.

]]> By: Robert http://www.rlweiner.com/impressions-of-the-palm-pre/comment-page-1#comment-1624 Robert Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:59:12 +0000 http://www.rlweiner.com/?p=1579#comment-1624 I found another problem with the Pre: contacts marked "private" in Outlook come across as normal entries. On earlier Palms you could require a password to open private contacts. This is a big step backward. I found another problem with the Pre: contacts marked “private” in Outlook come across as normal entries. On earlier Palms you could require a password to open private contacts. This is a big step backward.

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