TechAgility

So it was quite some time ago that I was messing around with SmartPhones, and then I finally moved on to the Orange C600 running WM5 and I was quite satisfied with that for some time.

Then I moved back to Australia and found that there was something quite different about trying to get GPRS working reliably down here with Optus on a PrePay plan. So eventually I managed to contact someone in Melbourne who was prepared to help me get access to a copy of the Australian ROM for the i-Mate SP5, and after applying that all seemed pretty good with the GPRS working straight out of the box via a cab file that was supplied.

But after a while the SmartPhone started locking or freezing after about a day to a day and a half and would require a reboot to get going again - So I started looking at a replacement, and while I was in Singapore recently I caught up with an old work mate from Citrix and he had one of the new HTC Touch mobiles that looked really nice and I was then starting to seriously think about seeing if I could get one here in Sydney?

Then my thoughts turned to whether or not it might be possible to upgrade the ROM image on my current C600 (Tornado) to WM6 and it didn’t take too much digging around before I discovered this information.

in the past I have found the MoDaCo site to contain quite good info, but Paul as an MVP clearly needs to keep things above board with Microsoft, so you will probably not find much in the way of links there and more over at xda-developers.

!!!!WARNING!!!!
Do not attempt any of this unless you either A: know what you are doing, OR B: are prepared to turn your handset in to a very expensive paperweight?

I will not be answering questions if you get into trouble, this post is simply meant to highlight what is possible and provide a convenient place to group the information to get you started. 

NOTE:
The first image that I used was missing the t9, so try the first link under extras to get that back in and then you should be good to go?

BTW performance on this now is noticeably quicker than with the old iMate SP5 ROM

WM6 on C600

Tornado forum at xda developers(10 Viewing)
The Tornado will also probably be sold as SP5, SPV C600, etc

The image I used was "UPDATED!!! [[V6]] Windows Mobile 6 for Tornado Perfect English Edition Released!"
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=321665

or you might want to try:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=335067&highlight=live+messenger+download

or you might want to try:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=326312

or you might want to try:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332097

Extras:

T9 from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=322950

Crossbow Skin:
http://www.nectun.com/details_skin.php?id_menu=2&langue=en&id_skin=4186&id_type_tel=2

MS Office 2007 CAB - only for WM6
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=310832

written by dcaddick

This has been posted at James O’Neill’s blog regarding Viridian. This is quite a neat balancing act where it would appear that on the surface of it Microsoft are prepared to seriously back this and throw some heavy support behind anyone signing up for this, but at the same time they will be expected commit full time resources, participate in conference calls, pay for consulting AND run pre-release code in Production !!!!

Well if that doesn’t put you off, I’m sure it will put your Boss/CIO off? but if you still have a green light, read on…

Windows Server Virtualization (2008) Rapid Deployment Programme (RDP)

We are getting ready to take nominations for this programme: It’s not an open beta program (it is expected to have only about 40 places) so most people will be turned away. There is a second programme called the Momentum programme which provides a lower level of support. If you’re looking to evaluate Virtualization on Windows Server 2008 either programme may be of interest, so please send me a mail. If you are in the UK I will help the process along for you. If you are located somewhere else I’ll try to put you in contact with someone local that can help. Please note that nominations  close on November 16, please don’t ask after then.

Here’s a summary of what the RDP is about.

Our Goals

• Build closer relationship with customers to get deployment feedback
• Understand and document best practices
• Develop Case study evidence and customer references for the product launch

We will provide

• Early Access to Pre-Release Code and information
• Technical Support - providing an escalation contact and access to Premier support 
• Access to application compatibility and test teams
• Part payment of consulting costs associated with the project

Customer Requirements:

• Commit to deploying Windows Server Virtualization and / or System Center Virtual Machine Manager (we expect to see Executive sponsoring participation, a project manager and other staff allocated to the programme)
• Participate in regular status conference calls and training, and provide Provide ongoing status updates and surveys 
• Pay part of consulting costs (Yes. You have to spend money to be on this programme)
• Install pre-release code into a production environment (unlike most beta programmes, we will support RDP participants running pre-release code in production)

more at source… James O’Neill’s blog

written by dcaddick

So from Alessandro comes news of a review of the Virtualization platforms and it’s going to come as no surprise that VMware tops the bill? But what is surprising is the kudos they give XenSource? Easy to use, feature rich offering is quickly catching up to its main rival - that would have to be good news to Citrix? especially seeing as XenSource was listed as being the easier of the two to deploy?

To be honest I think there is a lot to be said about familiarity with a product, if you are familiar with it and can be up to speed quickly in any organization then this will clearly be a benefit? So the fact that VMware has so market share will work in it’s favor - for now at least?

I wonder how this review might have turned out if Viridian was also listed? Probably not too well at this early stage, but it would be interesting to know how far it has to catch up?

Review: CRN compares most popular virtualization platforms

Monday, October 08, 2007   |   0 Comments

CRN published a basic review of most popular virtualization platforms on the market today, assigning a rating to each one:

• 1st - VMware Infrastructure 3
• 2nd - XenSource XenEnterprise 4
• 3rd - SWsoft Virtuozzo 3.5.1
• 4th - Virtual Iron 4.0

Reviewer provided following conclusion:

While all four virtualization solutions accommodate the needs of IT development, VMware stood above the others for providing the best end-to-end virtualized environment specifically designed for development.

The biggest challenge for IT is to build communications between a large team working on the same development project. VMware’s ESX server is built for that, including the most features by far. XenSource’s XenServer is the simplest product to use and has new features that enable it to compete on a more level playing field with VMware and SWsoft. XenEnterprise is price-competitive and also scales higher than VMware’s enterprise solution.

SWsoft offers an interface that’s easy to understand, but its capabilities don’t rise to the level many development teams would require. Virtual Iron’s interface just wasn’t friendly enough for engineers to build simple workflows.

Simply put, systems integrators and application providers can certainly use all four products to develop and test systems but on more complex distributed infrastructures, they will be hard-pressed to meet deadlines without VMware’s Lab Manager to monitor workflow, integration schedules and code assets.

Read the whole comparison at the source.

virtualization.info: Review: CRN compares most popular virtualization platforms

written by dcaddick