SvenOnTech has been told by a source at an Exchange ISV that Direct Push support will be on the iPhone in about “a month or two”. The feature set will include not only updating the Mail application upon arrival of new e-mail but will also support over-the-air syncing of contacts and calendar events exactly like it is done on current devices running Windows Mobile. New contacts added either from Entourage, Outlook, or from the iPhone itself will automatically be synchronized to the Exchange server and thus passing it off to all the clients attached to it. Calendar events will updated in the same fashion.

Support Microsoft Exchange will allow Apple’s iPhone to continue its success by allowing millions of enterprise workers to keep up-to-date with their corporate affairs through out the day.

The absence of Exchange support in the initial release of the iPhone is most likely due to the fact that the software was still in its testing phase and not ready for release.

I feel like I first have to preface this post with somewhat of a defense. Yes, I love my iPhone and yes I am relieved to be off of the Windows Mobile platform. Those two things are true, but I can’t help long for Microsoft’s ActiveSync. While it has it’s deficiencies, it sure syncs a lot faster than iTunes 7.3. How is it that every time I sync my iPhone, it takes forever to just get through my Calendar? Contacts takes a good amount of time, too. But when I use to “fresh” sync my Microsoft-based phone (docking the phone since a prior sync), ActiveSync never took as long as iTunes does to search for changes and sync them. I’m at a lost why iTunes takes as long as it does. Man, it’s unsettling!

Truth is, because of the long sync times, I’ll most likely only sync once a day, which sucks for a business professional like myself in which a single day could demand many syncings to keep both the desktop and portable device up-to-date. (If over-the-air syncing, via Direct Push, was supported, this wouldn’t even be an issue.) But with such lengthy times to get the iPhone up-to-date, stale information is most likely what the phone will have through the day.

Now to be fair to iTunes, I do sync a full year of events which is a lot. But again, iTunes should make an index file to allow the iPhone to check it for changes and then only change the differential, not the entire year of events. It seems like the same thing is happening with my 362 Contacts as well. Apple, there is a better way of doing this, so let’s see it!

I was going to hold off on any details about my thoughts on the iPhone until I used it for a few more days, but Shane has gone out and told everyone that I did a review, so now I’m forced to give something.

Regular readers of SvenOnTech will know that at first, I was very let down by the lack of features such as 3G data network support, no Exchange Direct Push, and no true third-party developer support. As time drew closer to the release of the phone, I started to warm to the iPhone. Finally, the 29th of June came and I wanted one. I lined up at a Manteca AT&T store (still with its Cingular sign out front) and three hours later, I had one. I was stoked!

First, let me tell you what led me to change my mind on getting one. I have been a Windows Mobile user all the way back to Windows CE. Yes, when it was black-and-white and actually had a Start menu on it. I’ve seen it grow and I’ve seen it fail. Over and over again, fail. The stability of the pocket operating system has never been one to feel secure with. I guess that’s why a back up application was the first thing I installed with each device I purchased. But the nagging thing was the applications I use daily on the Pocket PC that I needed to have were absent in every way from the iPhone. I looked to get HTC’s latest device from AT&T and I was close to purchasing it. VERY close. But my current HTC device, the XV 6700 kept dying on me. I finally got so fed up with it, I realized an unreliable device with a ton of features was not better than one with less features that was very reliable. So I held out for the iPhone.

How do I know the iPhone is more reliable? I don’t. But based on historical evidence of Apple hardware, I’m fairly confident the iPhone in it’s premiere form is far more superior than Microsoft’s decade of trial. I have a Rev. A MacBook Pro and have no issues with it. I have had talked to others with first run Apple hardware and have heard the same. Since the iPhone is based on OS X, I know that’s stable enough in its five year run. I have more confidence in Apple than I ever have had in Microsoft.

Another issue I should bring up is the fact of service. I left Verizon for AT&T. I LOVE Verizon. It has the best signal I have seen. I have been everywhere from Chico, California to Tucson, Arizona and everywhere in-between. I never had a dead phone. Ever. Too bad Verizon passed on the iPhone as it would have been the perfect combo.

Lining up for the iPhone was great. Like the days of lining up for the Smashing Pumpkins or Summer Jam while in college. This time, I brought my family (my wife showed up just in time to get in the store with us) and we waited nearly three hours to be luck 19. I got it. Boy, was I excited! Even the kids where into it! What an event. (See my Flikr album for some pix.)

Okay, the phone. How is it? Well in a nutshell, this skeptic is impressed. I figured the Exchange mail would be the most bitter pill to swallow but guess what I found in the Mail settings of the phone? An Exchange button! While it’s not pure Exchange but rather an insecure IMAP connection, it does the job. In fact, it does the job better than my XV6700 did! One of the ongoing problems I had with it was the constant disabling of Direct Push by itself for some reason. When it was working and grabbing mail as it came, the XV6700 wouldn’t notify me of new mail. The iPhone can be set to automatically retrieve mail every 15 minutes and when there’s something new in my Inbox, the familiar Mail.app new mail sound chimes along with a quick vibrate of the iPhone. I was so not use to this feature working that I kept pulling out my iPhone all through church thinking I had a phone call! Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t get Entourage. In some ways it’s way better than Outlook. In others, it’s horribly worse. What gives Microsoft? Couldn’t it at least be consistent on some features like Insert Web Address? I mean, E-mail does use the Internet, right? That said, it would suppose that from time to time, one would want to add a link into a message for a friend to go visit. Right? But don’t try looking for Insert URL or Web Link in Entourage thinking it’ll be there like it is in Outlook. Nope. You’ll be stuck wasting time and coming up with a big empty. Lame.

This one’s for you Fletch. I found a work around.

Barry Wainwright is a man who has felt our pain and has written a few AppleScripts to get that stinkin’ web address into your Entourage message. He has written a script for both Firefox and Safari. Similar to a script I use for submitting articles to Macsurfer, Barry’s script will insert the address of the current web site you are at to the foremost Entourage window. It’ll insert the full address in pure HTML code. Just like that!

Thankfully, people like Barry understands our needs more than Microsoft. He’s got a pulse on the people. Thanks, Barry.

When Steve Jobs introduced to the world the iPod for the first time, the crowd instantly knew a hit was in the hand of this CEO. No one really knew, though, that it would change the world. Today, everywhere you go, you can spot a biker, jogger, walker, and even an illegal use of the white headphones in the ears of a driver (at least illegal in here in California.) White cords dangle over just about everyones cloths today. The iPod changed the world.

Microsoft will do the same with Surface. With its advanced and broad feature set, commercial customers will take the brunt of the high price for the high appeal factor and through these purchases, bring down the price to a more affordable consumer price range fairly quick. Once the consumer market starts tapping into the table, the glass is sure to break open. What person doesn’t want the ease of setting your digital camera on the Surface and have it automatically download the images and instantly show you your images right there on the table? With its easy editing, filing, and even forwarding as an e-mail all with your fingers and gestures, sans a keyboard and mouse, many families and bachelors alike will surely justify the cost of purchase. Heck, Grandma may be even sell her Caddy in the driveway to grab one of these!

While I don’t see the Zune integration taking off too much, anything’s possible by the time these become common in living rooms across America. (Yes, I’m inferring that Zunes may become popular and usable with this. ) Dragging and dropping songs from your music library to your Zune (maybe an iPod, too?!) is pretty darn sweet!

While the iPhone is sure to be a success, Microsoft has not done bad with its Windows Mobile platform and blending PDA use with Surface is just brilliant. To, again, drag tickets from a movie you looked up on the table and then have driving directions all import into your PDA that is sitting on the Surface is just how technology is suppose to work in the future…now.

Now I know most tables of America hold nothing more than feet and magazines and thus the complication lies with the Surface. But I think habits can be changed and I think Microsoft can change the world with its Surface if it plays its cards right. If Microsoft doesn’t kill it before it even clears the gates (no pun intended) like it did with the Zune, Surface has a great chance at becoming a great icon in technology history.

In Bill Gates last hurray project, Microsoft announced it’s $10,000 piece of furniture. Yup, ten big — huge — ones for a table! But this isn’t like any table you’ve seen before and it’s one you probably won’t want Uncle Fred putting his feet up on or Grammy’s tea set placed on the top of this table. What makes this table special is that it’s touch sensitive and much like the iPhone, it allows you to control everything on-screen with just your fingers and gestures…and even objects! The 30-inch display called Surface is a technical breakthrough without a doubt and is that very digital hub Steve Jobs keeps talking about! Irony on who has brought it to the world though, huh?

Microsoft describes Surface likes this:

Microsoft Surface puts people in control of their experiences with technology, making everyday tasks entertaining, enjoyable and efficient. Imagine ordering a beverage during a meal with just the tap of a finger. Imagine quickly browsing through music and dragging favorite songs onto a personal playlist by moving a finger across the screen. Imagine creating and sending a personal postcard of vacation pictures instantly to friends and family, while still wearing flip-flops.

Surface also features the ability to recognize physical objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes. This means that when a customer simply sets a wine glass on the surface of a table, a restaurant could provide them with information about the wine they’re ordering, pictures of the vineyard it came from and suggested food pairings tailored to that evening’s menu. The experience could become completely immersive, letting users access information on the wine-growing region and even look at recommended hotels and plan a trip without leaving the table.

Due to the high price tag, you’ll first see Surface in retail stores and entertainment venues. T-Mobile will use it to allow customers to place a phone on it and Surface will give instant details on the device, its available plans, and cost. Harrah’s Entertainment’s Las Vegas properties, such as Caesars Palace, will allow guests to order tickets to an Elton John concert, browse a menu, and check out the various stores within the Palace.

Bill Gates may have closed the chapter, and book, at Microsoft with an amazing story that might be told for many years to come. The question is, will it be a happy ending?

(Newswire) Companies are being urged to exercise caution in planning for Microsoft’s new 2007 Office system according to a new report from Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

The report, “Microsoft’s 2007 Office System: Should My Organization Upgrade?” is the first in-depth look at the new 2007 Microsoft Office system, which consists of new and redesigned applications and servers for word processing, spreadsheets, instant messaging, e-mail, mobile work, meetings, content management, online conferencing, and collaborative workspaces.

Basex’s analysts believe that there are good reasons not to rush into an upgrade. Depending on the organization, the minuses may outweigh the pluses.

“Microsoft has released dozens of new and redesigned applications and servers as part of its new 2007 Office system,” said Jonathan Spira, CEO and chief analyst, Basex and a co-author of the report. “Our research tells managers what’s really new and which of these tools is right for their organizations so that they can plan appropriately.”

Shavlik Technologies announced today that Microsoft Corporation has selected Shavlik to provide Microsoft’s customers with vulnerability assessment capabilities for those Windows systems that have traditionally relied upon Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) V1.2.1. Microsoft has retired MBSA V1.2.1 as of April 30, 2007, which currently provides vulnerability scanning and detection for several older Microsoft products not supported by Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

Shavlik NetChk Protect Limited for MBSA is now available for immediate download at no cost to Microsoft customers, and just like MBSA today, will identify needed security updates. Customers will also be able to upgrade to Shavlik’s enterprise versions of NetChk that offer more robust tools for full vulnerability management lifecycle needs such as automated remediation, intelligent patch targeting, and granular policy and compliance reporting.

“Shavlik Technologies was an easy choice for Microsoft to go to for providing continuity in supporting the complete detection for customers who are using some of the older products,” said Stephen Toulouse, Group Program Manager at Microsoft. “Shavlik has an intimate knowledge of security detection requirements since they helped develop the first version of MBSA for Microsoft.”

Shavlik and Microsoft have a history of working together to ensure a more secure computing environment, as Shavlik Technologies originally developed the core scanning and detection technology used as the basis for MBSA. First released by Microsoft as two separate tools back in 2001, as MBSA and HFNetChk, this capability was considered groundbreaking as Microsoft was the first OS vendor to offer network patch check tools.

“We are pleased to be able to continue our security relationship with Microsoft and offer customers solutions that complement and enhance the capabilities offered by Microsoft Update,” said Mark Shavlik, CEO of Shavlik Technologies. “Microsoft and Shavlik have worked together to ensure that we provide users of older products a single, familiar and easy-to-use solution to assess their security state.”