After reading this post a while ago and spending some time thinking about it, I’ve switched over to IMAP for Gmail access on the BlackBerry.  Before I had an elaborate setup, using a filter to forward emails to my blackberry.net device email and then setting the device email to set from and reply-to to my gmail address and auto bcc my gmail address.  All that because IMAP and POP have historically had much slower delivery times on the BlackBerry than the device and enterprise email.  However, as I process more and more email using my device, I always have a pile of unread messages in my inbox whenever I log in to the web interface.  I’ve tested IMAP again and it seems to be working much faster than in the past.  Here are some notables about my new setup:

• Emails read on the BlackBerry are marked as read in Gmail
• Emails deleted from BlackBerry are archived in Gmail
• After creating a ‘Sent Items’ label in Gmail, emails sent from the BlackBerry appear under this label on the web interface.  Conversations stay intact.

Technology wouldn’t be fun without a few caveats:

• Emails read in the web interface are not marked as read on the BlackBerry
• Emails archived or deleted in the web interface are not removed from the BlackBerry inbox
• Any previously archived messages moved to the inbox using the web interface will be redelivered as new messages on the BlackBerry

Now at least messages are marked as read when I view them on the device and I can archive messages from the device quickly to keep them from building up in my inbox.  I still have the Gmail app installed but continue to see that as primarily a tool for searching through historic messages and chats, etc. from the device more than a good way to process incoming email and reply to it.

Tags: BlackBerry,Gmail,howto
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Tags: Autumn,Bethany,Daniel,Family,Jade,jason,Liberty,Samuel,vacation
Categories: Family
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I found out yesterday that I made the cover of the March/April Business Advocate. OK, so it isn’t Forbes. How many magazine covers have you made?

The back story is that one of our exec assistants brought a copy down after recognizing me and Adam, a coworker of mine, on the cover. We took a day off work about a year ago to go to a business expo where we apparently were photographed.

Tags: publicity
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I’ve been meaning to put this up for over a week now…

I had the opportunity to experience a new first class configuration on a newer Northwest Boeing 757-200 OW on one of my flights back from Boston recently. This was the second time I had seen this plane; it was substituted for our scheduled aircraft in both situations.

The first class cabin is completely reconfigured with the seats almost double spaced. While sitting down you cannot touch the seat in front of you with your hands or legs without getting up. The seats themselves are more la-Z-Boy style with four points of adjustment. Besides the standard overhead lights, there is a lamp connected to the seat for reading. Because the seats are spaced so far apart, the trays all fold out of the left arm and can be used either folded in half to the left side or fully unfolded and turned out in front of you. There is a universal power plug on the left by your leg that appeared to support both American and European style plugs. On the right side is a special plug to be used with a multimedia device available upon request. I didn’t request one, so I’m not sure what this looks like or what you can do with it. There is a bracket that folds out of the right arm rest to hold the device. The seats fully recline, almost into a bed-like configuration. I was sleeping with the seat all the way back during landing–whether this is now allowed with these planes or the stewardess simply couldn’t wake me up to make me put my seat up I cannot say.

The coach cabin has more modest updates and seemed mostly the same other than perhaps more comfortable chairs.

I took pictures of as much as I could. Forgive the quality–it was a crappy camera phone. Click any of the pictures below to see the rest of the gallery.

Tags: HES experience,Travel
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It was only a matter of time after Apple’s switch to Intel and subsequent thriving of the OSx86 project. There were already plenty of hardware guides helping users spec out their own OSx86 compatible PCs. Now you can switch on the cheap without putting in that kind of effort. Psystar Corporation is selling computers with OS X Leopard preinstalled starting at $554.99. Here are the specs on their baseline machine:

• 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor
• 2GB of DDR2 667 memory
• Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics
• 20x DVD+/-R SATA drive that is Lightscribe-capable

A significant processor gain and twice the memory and hard drive of Apple’s closest priced Mac mini which is $50 more. Interesting to note that most of the cost for these computers, like PCs today, is in the cost of the operating system. In fact, even more of the cost ($155) is due the operating system in the case of these machines because Apple does not have OEM licensing pricing available. Psystar does make their hardware available without Leopard preinstalled for $399, a move likely to encourage piracy of Apple’s OS X. If Apple can hold back the knee-jerk urge to sue they must be feeling right now, this could be another revenue opportunity. A $90-a-copy OEM licensing deal with companies like Psystar in exchange for the manufacturer agreeing not to sell the equipment without an operating system, similar to deals Microsoft has been known to engage in with Dell and other manufacturers, it would serve both add a revenue stream from a customer base that currently finds Apple’s lineup cost prohibitive and reduce revenue loss via piracy. That would make a lot of business sense. Apple will still be the Cadillac. These machines are large ugly bricks compared to the cool and sleek Mac mini. Of course I’m morally opposed to enforced licensing schemes such as that.

Tags: Apple,OSx86
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Since writing the post on synchronizing with Unison, I’ve gotten quite a bit of use out of my synchronized drive. (I call mine the MDrive; I know–creative.) I’ve also come up with a few more tweaks to make Unison hum.


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Tags: howto,Linux,OS X,Windows
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Today I’m very excited. Some of you know I’ve been having heat problems with my MacBook Pro. I’m happy to report that Apple has resolved all my issues! Woo hoo! I was frustrated with the frequency of repairs, etc. to address my overheating issue, but in all fairness, that is the nature of troubleshooting. At the end of the day, I’m very happy and still recommend the MacBook or MacBook Pro as the absolute best laptops. Buying the extended AppleCare is probably a good idea too.

Tags: Apple,AppleCare,MacBook Pro
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I know I haven’t put anything out here in a while, so I wanted to get a quick message out wishing everyone a blessed Easter.  After turning in a mid-term paper and taking a mid-term exam yesterday, I’m sure looking forward to some down time with the family!  Hopefully I’ll see some of you who have been wondering where I’ve disappeared to.  Who knows, maybe I’ll even take a little time out and find some cool techy thing to blog about.  Though I still have a big homework assignment due tomorrow and one final mid-term on the 31st to study for, so… probably not.

Tags: HES experience,jason
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Check it out!  On top of the sidebar to the right is my new Google Talk Chatbox, a feature announced by Google today.  When you click it, a window will open and you can talk to me.  Pretty spiffy.  I’m dying to try it out, so give it a click and let’s get our chat on.

Tags: Google,web 2.0
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Here is a useful HowTo for anyone who needs to keep files in sync between PCs. There are many commercial solutions out there (iDrive et al.) that facilitate this, but those can be expensive and often limit space to a few gigabytes at most. This solution allows you to synchronize as much as you need and keep costs down. It is also relatively easy to implement across multiple platforms and operating systems. Here are the basic ingredients of this design:

1. A publicly accessible machine, always connected to the Internet, that you can access via ssh. This can be a web host that allows ssh access or a machine of your own hooked up to the Internet with a static IP or dynamic DNS.
2. Unison. Don’t worry about this one. It’s a free rsync-like tool that supports bidirectional edits and can be downloaded for free.
3. Some time and patience. This method isn’t exactly for the faint of heart–but no worries, walk through step by step and you’ll get there.

If it looks like you can handle those three, read on for the details.


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Tags: howto,Linux,OS X,Windows
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