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Only on the rare occasion do I find myself actually getting excited about software. Today is one of those days, and what is the instigator you may ask. Well it’s FinchSync.

FinchSync is a tool for synchronizing contacts, appointments and tasks from Mozilla email and calendar products with a Pocket PC or SmartPhone.

Contacts are synchronized with the email client’s address book. The build-in applications of the Netscape- and Mozilla Application Suite are supported as well as the standalone Mozilla Thunderbird.

As a devout user of Thunderbird and Sunbird I’ve been unable to truly get 100% out of my Axim. I’ve had to settle for copying contacts, tasks and appointments across manually, a laborious task as you can well imagine, and a total productivity inhibitor.

And then Finchsync hoves in to view with it’s absolute simplicity. A small java server on the pc and a small sync cab on the axim. The setup was straightforward, server and client, the documentation perfect. I simply chose the Thunderbird and Sunbird files that I wished to be sync’d and then setup a user and server account, hit the sync button and hurrah, 250+ contacts zoomed over to my Axim.

If you’re an Outlook abstainer like myself, get this now !

I’m in heaven, thank you, oh thank you, finchsync !!

UPDATE:

I did have one problem, but more related to Sunbird than Finchsync. They changed from ics files for the calendar and tasks so you’ll need to follow this sunbird v3 how to if you are using the latest Sunbird.

My new Axim X51v announced itself this morning. It’s mission, to replace my dearly departed X50v.

I’ve not had a chance to have a proper play with it as of yet. It does come with the spanking Windows Mobile 5 rather than the Windows Mobile 2003SE that the x50v was equipped with. At first glances there are minor improvements and changes to the UI but underneath everything seems to be pretty similar. Installing software is a lot nicer, you are actually prompted for an install destination, so you can choose one of your cards or in the system memory which is a nice improvement over 2003. The worst thing i’ve spotted is the new v4 Activesync no longer seems to have a backup option. I might have missed it but its not were it used to be ! Rather disappointing if I have to invest in another piece of software to do the job.

It’ll get a trial tomorrow when I go over to the office, there’ll be plenty of tasks and appointments to throw in.

… and just as a precaution this time round it’s got the highest level of security set!
… encryption is my next step…

… so thieves, take note, if you get it, it’ll be a bloody paperweight !

I’ve been down to London for the last two days for an SEO conference, which went rather well, hopefully we’ll garner something useful from it to help boost site traffic.

Secondly, I had the great opportunity to meet up with Mark of BritBlog fame. We had a great chat, a good few beers and a nice chinese. Was really great fun and hope we’ll be able to meet up again at some point in the future.

The downside….

Some fucker pickpocketed me and stole my mobile and PDA. Bastards…

Is nothing sacred, if it’s not taped down they’ll fucking have it. I wouldn’t care but they were in my inside, zipped up, coat pocket. I mean how ????

Well it got reported, but I imagine nothing will come of it. I’m just another MET statistic now.

Life goes on….

Always being a fan of old-skool computing, i’m just trying out PocketClive Speccy emulator on my Axim. I’m so looking forward to playing some decent games! Manic Miner, Dizzy, Jet Set Willy, and more…, hurrah !

Update: much fun to be had on the Atari 2600 if your up for it. Phoenix anyone.

Literally there’s not ! On my Axim x50v keyboard, or rather in WM2003 and probably other versions too, the pop-up keyboard has no escape key… So imagine how suprised I was the other day whilst using pocketputty (it’s a must btw) and vi and finding I couldn’t get out of insert mode !!

The simple solution for any of those who get stuck like I did. Use the mapped escape key…

CTRL + [

Hurrah !

Yeah I know it’s two taps and vi is all about swiftness, but we are taking about using vi via windows… Can’t have everything