Today we got another m400 in the team. The laptop came with the Toshiba Slice Expansion 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery Pack which I immediately took borrowed. I am just charging the batteries and will then try the uptime using both batteries with Toshiba’s balanced and power saver settings. The Toshiba web page promises about 9 hours uptime using the extension, so we will see how my machine drains the batteries…
A while ago Microsoft release the Consolas Font for Visual Studio 2005. I haven’t thought of it since installed the first time until I set up my machine during the last days. There is a significant difference while using the Consolas font (all characters the same width, optimized for ClearType and quite a bit smaller than the old typewriters). The pictures shows a direct comparison of both fonts…
Here we go, the Windows SDK Update for Vista:
“The Microsoft® Windows® Software Development Kit (SDK) Update for Windows Vista provides documentation, samples, header files, libraries, and tools designed to help you develop Windows applications using both native (Win32) and managed (.NET Framework) technologies. This release of the SDK supplies”
There are two versions of the Windows SDK out there. The fist one is a .iso download, the second one the Web setup. They should be the same, however the .iso is version 5.0 while the Web setup is version is Orcas March07 CTP.
Coming back from Redmond, I found the Visual Studio Update for Vista RTM available.
After years of using Windows XP, I got used to some additional features provided by Microsoft Windows XP Powertoys. Coming with a couple of new features I still missing some very essential tools for my daily work. The two things I miss the most are Open Command Window Here and Image Resizer.
Pressing shift while clicking a folder in Explorer brings up the Open Command Window then.
Windows Mobile Device Center 6 is available for download.
For quite a time, I am waiting for the drivers for my Toshiba m400 running Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise Edition. Drivers availability is scheduled for end of January as the Toshiba support page says.
“Toshiba is committed to making final production BIOS and various software components for Windows Vista available for our Vista Capable systems within the timeframe of the public launch of Windows Vista, scheduled for January 30, 2007.”
Benjamin G. points out two interesting gadgets for the Vista sidebar on his blog. Personally, I like the Outlook Tasks gadget the most. The Outlook Upcomming Appointments gadget did not work on my machine. It is showing only one appointment from september. Actually, this is also one comment on the gadget’s homepage.
Using my xda with Windows Mobile 5, I had to discover that Microsoft ActiveSync cannot be installed on Windows Vista. Instead Vista is suggesting the Sync Center. Actually I do not want to sync the media files on the device rather than my contacts and my calendar on that device.
Windows Mobile Device Center (Beta 3) is the replacement for ActiveSync and allows you to sync your Windows Mobile 5 device with Windows Vista. It looks like further version of the Device Center will be available though Windows Update. The current beta 3 is available as standalone download only and is about 10 MB. After installing the connected device was found immediately.
The device is set up by choosing the elements to sync: Calendar, Notes, Tasks, Mails and even OneNote is supported. After choosing the elements to sync, the device center appears to be ready.
What I personally like about the Device Center: It does not appear anymore as tiny window with quite small buttons. Instead it is easy to use. Another positive thing was the detection of the mobile device and the partnering process with the device. Very doable if you are used to ActiveSync.
Finally, also the Sync Center does support the Windows Mobile 5 device. Unfortunately, the syncing did not work while the device was still connected. The items did neither change on the device nor in my Outlook. Also the sync process was done after 2-3 seconds. I removed the device and plugged it in again. Now the sync process takes much longer but nothing happened.
To troubleshoot the sync issue you have to start ActiveSync on the mobile device, changing the ActiveSync settings their. The synchronization settings may be still set to the former partnership. After changing the items to the new partnership synchronization did start quite well.