slice of koh

Since I’ve bought my G1 in late January, I have been searching for a simple to use Exchange app.  It took several downloads and a couple of system crashes where I had to reset the phone, but I finally found my Exchange app.  Now it’s whether I want to pay for it once the trial period is over tomorrow.

First trial: Touchdown

Thoughts: It had good reviews, and all I wanted was to read and respond to urgent emails.  It worked with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003/2007.  There were some cool security features like inputting a PIN to access your account on the G1.

Personal Verdict:  The trial version crashed my G1 several times per day whenever I tried to run the app.  Granted I was testing this around early February, so there may have been bugs in the earlier versions of this software.  The developer recommends that you use the trial version to make sure your Exchange account will work with the software.  Unfortunately, my Exchange account didn’t play nice with the program as well.  The fully licensed version costs $25 which is a little pricey for a still developing mobile application.  

Second trial: K-9 Mail

Thoughts: Slightly better than the standard POP/IMAP email client on G1 according to reviews.

Personal Verdict: It is definitely better than the standard G1 email client but definitely a little slower.  The user interface was a little strange, and there were some random glitches here and there. Message inbox counter is sometimes incorrect.  Small font can strain eyes, but it’s definitely much better than above in terms of stability.  The best thing is that it’s a free client!

Third trial: Moxier Mail Beta (Update: Beta version extended through April)

Thoughts: First email push client for Android with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.  Beta version looked promising according to reviews.

Verdict: Very simple interface, easy-to-use, and simple to set up.  Beta version has limited features but works without major bugs.  This is definitely my favorite Exchange app thus far, and I am curious to find out how much the full version will cost.  If it has calendar features that are as easy to use as the email, I may be a convert.

Is it just me or is the Android Market really difficult to browse through?  One of the biggest downsides of the open source mobile OS is that there is really no way to tell what is a new application is a good or bad one until you try it out yourself or wait until your fellow G1 colleagues try it out themselves.  I definitely had my fair share of trials where new apps either made my G1 crash every five minutes or freeze my G1 until I have to take out the battery to restart.

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After years in stealth mode, OnLive introduced itself to the world at this year’s GDC.  OnLive is a new server-based on demand games service that allows anyone with a healthy broadband connection to play any game despite power and complexity.  The concept means that there would be no need to for continuous hardware upgrades (and draining $’s)  to one’s PC.  Is this the end of the console?  

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I love my Xbox 360 and all, but Nintendo Wii is really embarrassing all other consoles in the current generation.   It was not too long ago that people thought Nintendo was running on its last few breaths as it struggled against the mighty Sony Playstation and PS2.  When Nintendo announced it was making a completely different console that did not focus on the best graphics or hardware, almost everyone thought Nintendo was done for.  Before we knew it, the Nintendo Wii sold like hotcakes and could not be found anywhere for almost two years.  What were the secrets to Nintendo’s success in the current console generation?  Nintendo understood two things very well: their consumers and the basic economic concept of third-degree price discrimination.  The combined understanding of two simple ideas made Nintendo corporate very happy in the last few years.

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Gamestop is currently having a Buy 2 Get 1 Free for used games and accessories this weekend.  This is probably one of the few times that I actually would buy video games.  It is definitely worthwhile if you are getting any games that have been recently released or if you wanted to get a refurbished Xbox 360 harddrive.  Someone may get lucky and get a used copy of Resident Evil 5 as that game is released today.