Just as I was polishing off my review of the PPC-6700, I stumbled across a forum post that announced that Sprint had finally made a new firmware available for the device. After reading what was included, I can’t release my review as-is.

I had a few gripes which seem to be fixed out-right by the new firmware, so I’m going to spend a week with the update and see how it changes my view of the device. I’m still very happy with it, and hopefully I’ll be even more happy with it next week.

So, those of you who have the Sprint PPC-6700, go login to your sprint account and go to ‘Phone Details’ then ‘Software Download’, select ‘Windows CE’ as your OS, and the upgrade application should be the first link. Make sure to use your USB cable to install the update, Bluetooth connections are too finicky for such a major transfer.

If you can see this post, you’ve made it to the new server!

Let me know what you think of my new site design in the comments. I’m straying a little from the wordpress pack by ditching the sidebar, but I think the menu system is much cleaner and allows more focus on the posts. Please let me know if you find it difficult to get around, if something doesn’t work properly, or if you miss a feature that I threw out.

New content is coming soon!

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. My job has been very crazy, but rest assured: I have been working on a complete site redesign and am in the process of switching web hosts. So as soon as I complete things I’ll flip the switch on the DNS and move everybody over.

I have so much built-up content for this site it’s driving me crazy. I just need to get the site in order and I should be able to finally get some posts up about my PPC6700 (which is awesome), a 6-month follow up on my X41 Tablet, some new features for my SageTV STV and a bunch of podcasts.

So stay tuned! Lots of good things are on the way.

I was looking around today on the news wires and noticed that Microsoft has finally published the suggested specs for Vista compatible systems. To my surprise, it appears as though my X41 tablet will be able to deliver a “Windows XP-comparable graphics experience”. So basically, it won’t work with all the super-cool eye candy, but it will be able to take advantage of all the other new tablet enhancements that Vista has promised.

You can see the whole list of desktop, mobile, and enterprise requirements here.

I’m really behind on my RSS reading lately, so this isn’t as timely as I would have liked it - but I’ve recently won an Ink Blot Award for the Best I Felt The Earth Move Experience When Finally Ordering A Tablet PC!

This is surely as a result of the strange coincidence I experienced when I was ording my Tablet, and there was an earthquake while I was on the phone with the sales person. You can read my account of it here.

I want to thank Warner for this wonderful honor. It is truly touching to be recognized by such a prolific TabletPC auteur.

I’m sorry I’ve been a little busy lately. I really have been thinking hard about TabletPCs, SageTV, and smartphones though. I haven’t forgotten about you.

In fact, I have been thinking SO much about you all, that I decided to take one for the team and make the switch from my Treo 600 to the new PPC-6700. I’ve only had a few minutes to play with it, but the first thing I decided to do is test out how fast EVDO was really going to be. After hearing all the hype I was a little worried I would be dissapointed, I was definitly not:

I know it’s blurry, but my crappy Treo 600 camera was all I have at the moment. If you can’t read it, it says: “1028kbps”. Seriously!?! Over 1 megabit per second wirelessly!?!

I think I’m going to have fun with this thing.

Another bunch of features you all seem to want.

Release Notes:

Meekell 0.5.0

Features:

• mlbdude’s External Program List (”Advanced->Configure Menu”)
• Malore’s Custom Guide Menus! (add via Menu Customization)

-All Malore’s menus can be renamed via ‘options’ command while in menu

• Nielm’s RSS NewsReader, w/ internal viewer! (add via Menu Customization)
• Enhanced Disk Space Widget (like v3 hidden feature) (”Advanced->STV Enhancements”)

UI Changes:

• 1st Run Marking in Guide (”Advanced->STV Enhancements”)
• Added “Programs” and “Shortcuts” main menus.
  Shortcuts menu populates with Malore’s Menus automatically
  See install instructions to get programs to show up

Bug Fixes:

• Menu Configuration now reports correct menu being modified
• Fixed all Watch Conflict popups (I think)
• Added FSE Toggle to Settings Menu
• Included Stanger’s fix for Data Import. (fixes production year, and directors)

All users should download the entire package listed on this page. You can find the SageTV forum thread by clicking here.

To all my loyal Tablet PC readers: I promise I’m working on some great new articles and podcasts. They should be ready by next week.

Short list, but BIG implications. Now that people can configure the main menu, I’m not scared to add new features and clutter the simplicity.

Release Notes:

Meekell 0.4.6

Features:

• Configurable Main Menu Items (”Advanced->Configure Menu”)

UI Changes:

• Main Menu Animates (turn off in “Advanced->STV Enhancements”, won’t be activated if “MVP Enhance” is Enabled)

Bug Fixes:

• 5-Item Menu bug squashed
• Channel Icons and Status Icons in media player display correctly
• Intelligent Indicator appears properly in Recordings Menu

You can find the SageTV forum thread by clicking here. You can download the files from the SageTV section of this site by clicking the “SageTV” link on the title bar of this page, or by clicking here.

Okay, so it turned out to be a slightly bigger release than I had planned, but here we go.

Release Notes:

Meekell 0.4.5

Features:

• Added Nielm’s Info Popup

UI Changes:

• Added setup for Data Import (Adcanced->External->Choose Collection.xml file)
• Removed “Smart Folders” legend button to remove confusion. (it never did anything…)
• Added icons to recording menu, option in “settings->advanced->enhancements->icons” - requested by multiple users (Thanks for the icons Iain!)
• Manual/Favorite/Don’t Like indication in media player
• All menus should show current menu title in title bar
• System asks if you want to import metadata for newly imported files automatically (uses DVD Profiler data import)

Bug Fixes:

• Programs to Record - keyboard now has highlights for focus
• Library Import - deleting directory now readable
• Now warns before changing channel while watching live tv
• Now catches channel change requests before canceling favorites recordings
• Setup menu now shows if options exist out of view
• Favorite Options now are fully functional and readable
• Data Import now asks for .xml file if none set
• A couple of other things I forgot about…

You can find the SageTV forum thread by clicking here. The new SageTV section of this site can be reached by clicking the “SageTV” link on the title bar of this page, or by clicking here.

Crashless Aspirations Episode #1 (MP3 - 4.9MB - 10:27)

Download it here! Subscribe via RSS

The inaugural Crashless Aspirations Podcast! More of an experiment than anything. After writing my latest article about my experiences trying to get rid of paper in my life, I realized there is so much more to talk about. Instead of writing a novel on the subject, I thought it would be fun to talk about it.

In this first show, I talk about the concepts surrounding digital notetaking; the current implementations, limitations, and considerations. If you’re after more of a ‘how-to’ or a review, check out the companion article here.

00:00 - Welcome

00:27 - Thanks to Great Glass Elevator for their song.

01:42 - Problems with paper.

03:28 - Issues with replacing ole’ faithful.

04:15 - Things OneNote does well.

05:50 - What Microsoft needs to do to get it mainstream.

07:27 - Who should take a look at Tablet PCs, and my conclusions.

09:11 - “Drugstore Cowboy” - by Great Glass Elevator.

For more specific details, read the accompanying article.

TRT: 10:27

Please let me know what you think of this first attempt. I’m looking forward to hearing what you all think of the format. If you have ideas for a future podcast and article, or questions, comments or whatever, please either post them, or email them and I’ll try and incorporate them into the next show.