Here it is, all but accessorised, and ready to be collected tomorrow

Now that's a car :)

Can't wait

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Finally, a device manufacturer that remembers what the "U" in "USB" stands for...

I received my new HTC TyTN II today. From my previous post on the last SWMUG monthly meeting, you'll remember I said that this was going to be my next device!! It is definitely closest to my current ideal, lacking only a few tiny details: e.g. sufficient onboard memory, extended battery life, and a sufficient resolution camera (with optical zoom) to rid myself of those other imperative gadgets (MP3 player, decent compact digital camera etc.)

But it does come with Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP, Wi-Fi (ABG), GPS, GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA, a 400MHz Processor, 3.8" QVGA screen, and the best slide-out QWERTY keyboard I've had the chance to use. What's with Micro-SD though? GRRR - just when I'd bought a decent size Mini-SD for the Palm....

So far we're 3 hours in. I've setup the Co-Pilot software (comes pre-loaded with Australia Maps), my Exchange 2007 account (I Love push email), my Windows Live account (Messenger, Maps, Search, Email), charged the battery, my weather location, picture contacts, and the Voice Command 2.0 training.

Am I happy? For day 1, yes, resoundingly so - this is a great gadget. Not for the fair weather "I only use the phone and SMS" mobile user. But if you need to be connected, fast, anywhere in the world, with the input peripherals to actually do something useful! If you don't necessarily want to carry around your MP3 player, camera, GPS, diary, task list, and phone! Then take a serious look at the TyTN II.... It's our next upgrade.

More on how it features as I use it in anger.

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I did. What a fun, frustrating, and funny day. Between getting me hair cut (check out the last two photos on the mobile album), giving money to Ronald McDonald house (hey, it was McHappy day remember) and trying desperately to fix the increasingly expensive lump of crap that is my Media Centre (more on that tomorrow); I also spent lots of money on technology, and saw "Death at a Funeral"

Laugh? I thought I'd blow a gasket. Definitely worth the watch, not to mention purchase on DVD when it comes out.

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So this is the climax of the year for what Lucy lovingly terms "geeks-r-us" a.k.a the Sydney Windows Mobile Usergroup. The thing is, our Christmas party tends not to be very geeky at all. Good food, really great company, and fantastic giveaways from all of our sponsors. Last year we gave away 3 Smartphones, not to mention GPS receivers, memory cars, backpacks, and other less functional (read technical) stuff.

On average, our Christmas Parties see some $5,000 of giveaways, and of course, everyone gets a gift. Of course partners are welcome, and the more that come, the more they have to talk about :)

This year we're at the Stamdford Hotel, and I'm really looking forward to wrapping up our 6th of all things Microsoft Mobility...

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Quote

SWMUG Annual Christmas Party

Hosted by: Sydney Windows Mobile Usergroup Date and time: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 at 6:30 PM Location name: Epping Rd, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia View this event on Windows Live

Were you even aware that your Mobile 6 device could take you places you'd only dreamed about? You do need to have bought it between 1 November and the end of 2007.

Of course there are other conditions, which constrain people like me winning :-) for very good reason, but if you don't work for Microsoft or our agencies, and you have bought yourself a Windows Mobile 6 device - check out the website here, and sign-up here

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Yep, Friday night saw the graduation night for the Australia Institute of Music Class of 2007. Em's year 12 class, and in true Lawrence parenting tradition, wild horses and work travel couldn't keep us from this gig.

What we weren't expecting was Em achieving no less than 6 awards!! 2 x 1st places, 3 x 2nd places, and...

...the Ruben F Scarf award for Commitment and Perserverence.

Not bad really, "our Em"

If you're not on facebook, you can download the videos of Em receiving her awards from here:

http://cid-2d7cec763fb15b96.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Public%20Videos

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Sponsored my MO yet?

Sometimes people do some work that is just brilliant. Simple in concept, and superlative in value. This is one of those times. 2 of the Microsoft Services folk in WA, Martin (Technical Account Manager) and Astrid (Consultant) McClean, are known for their previous Architecture Jigsaw posters, notably of Windows 2003 & 2008. Well they've done another one for Exchange 2007 SP1, and you can get it here...

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Sponsored my MO yet?

I love Unified Communications. I really do. This is seriously amongst the coolest technology I've encountered in a career of cool technologies. But it's not only the technology itself that I love, also what it does for me.

Do you feel like you simply have too many persona? I mean people know you at work, at home, socially, as someone's other half, parent. Then they contact you by work phone, home phone, personal email, work email, IM address, work IM address, Facebook account, yada, yada, yada. In turn that means you have multiple inboxes, answer machines, message histories, and voicemail accounts to check. If you weren't already insane, it's enough to drive you so.

Well UC (largely) does away with that. At least on the "multiple repositories" front. My IM conversations, voicemails, emails etc. are all stored in my one (Exchange) inbox. I now also forward my mobile to the work landline when I'm busy. That means I never have to "dial in" to collect my voice messages.

Of course with Windows Mobile (5 & 6) my inbox is synchronised with my mobile device. Which means that wherever I am, I get all of the communications sent to me, without having to check half-a-dozen places. You have no idea how enabling that is.

But wait there's more. Whenever my PC is attached to the Internet (without having to have a VPN) my communicator client is connected. That means I can be at my desk, working from home, or travelling to Melbourne, Seattle, or London, and people can call my local Sydney desk number and reach me. Yes I know you can do that on Skype too, but this is not an additional number I need to subscribe to, this is my std work desk number.

Once you start with the additional features, like just starting an IM, LiveMeeting, or Video Conference with any of the people in your team (including partners and customers) directly from a document or website. You start to understand just how limiting and intrusive the plain old telephone really is.

With UC, I become a person again. People contact Roger. They can see if I'm available (ping me on IM), away from my desk (try the mobile), in a meeting (send an SMS or email), or out of the office (send an email). I in turn can totally control how I want to be contacted, and whom I'll let intrude to what level. Already most of my team have webcams. Whether they're on client site, working from home, or in the office, we talk to each other face to face.

You may've seen BillG launch our UC technologies a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday we had the 1sr Australian UC Launch in Melbourne, and on Monday 19th we have the (oversubscribed) UC Launch in Sydney.

If you're suffering from Split Personality and have just too many inboxes in your life, look to UC.

Cheers

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Sponsored my MO yet?

Well I too saw the video of Android, the platform of the new G-Phone. Does it look cool? I would expect nothing less for a marketing video. Is there anything really new that we haven't yet seen in the world of mobility?

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Actually, the Nissan Navara ST-X.

After sweating all night over the choice (seriously). I mean, there's no way I'll be buying a Hilux SR5, not with the overpricing, the long deliveries, and more importantly, the crap ride. I mean compared to other 4x4 pickups, really crap ride.

But then I just couldn't bring myself to seeing the Triton as the "car I really want!" Don't get me wrong, lovely car. In stock, great test drive, more features (std) than the SR5. It's just, well, there were too many little things that weren't ideal: No cruise control (!!!!! - I mean what decade are we in); not enough torque in the petrol, at least compared to the other contenders; diesel doesn't have enough power; tray too small; hemmed in feeling for the driver (door rubbing my shoulder). So great car, but my 3rd choice.

However, I was all for ordering one, over the Hilux ($10k cheaper is a good start - the ride a great second) when a good friend (thanks Mark) suggested I try the Navara. Arrgghh!! Like this decision wasn't already difficult enough.

Of course, it's hard to look into getting this type of vehicle without knowing that the Navara has won the 2006 and 2007 4X4 Australia Ute of the Year Award. (Hilux came 5th and 8th 2006, 3rd 2007 - Triton came 2nd & 6th 2006, 5th 2007) So it trounces the Toyota. It's cheaper. More powerful. More passenger space. Bigger tray. Looks just as good (yeah looks are actually important - don't believe me - the Mahindra Pik-Up came 4th, and I don't see anyone buying that.) I can't believe I really hadn't considered it - show's what power branding has in influence. Especially in an area where we have very limited knowledge.

Anyway, on the off-chance, I found my local dealer (Parramatta) this afternoon, gave them a ring, to find out that they were open until 6pm, and had a Navara ST-X V6 Auto in stock, on the yard, and I could test drive it this evening.

Well, decision made. Easily. Total Peace of mind. I want that car. You must understand. Not the Navara ST-X Petrol Auto, but the actual car I drove this evening. It was that good. Really. In fact, probably better!

And this isn't just my decision. Oh no!! I dragged a 9, 11, and 17 yr old girl around car yards with me yesterday. They loved the Triton in Crows Nest (clearly didn't worry about the tray, or the driver's shoulder, or lack of cruise control). They liked the look of the 2nd hand SR5 we weren't allowed to test drive in Castle Hill (seriously, the rudest customer service I've experienced in Australia). They hated the ride in the Hilux SR we drove in Sutherland.... like complaints of bruising. So I decided to bring my unbiased, objective, independent, uncluttered with figures, yet vocal, test drive buddies along to Nissan this afternoon.

From the moment we saw the Metallic Electric Blue (Nissan call it Opal) vehicle in the yard, Amanzi commented that this was our car. Of course she'd made the same comment in Castle Hill about the black SR5 we couldn't drive. Charis asked if we could buy it. Of course she had asked if we could buy the Triton. But on balance, I had to agree with them, the car looks spectacular, the colour is really nice, the tray huge, with the most innovative restraint system I've seen.

Then we got in, and Mitchell unparked it for us and drove us round the corner. Already I was getting great vibes about this car. The girls had already discovered all the drinks holders, arm rests, nooks and crannies for the rear passengers. They were that comfortable that they were quietly reading. Even as a passenger, I was enjoying the ride. Then I got behind the wheel...

...and it was all over! Seriously, this car rocks. Finger-tip steering that firms up as you accelerate, the most responsive throttle I've driven with outside of Project Gotham Racing, I mean you have to learn to ease it gently - this is no learner's car!! Gear changes? What gear changes? Roomy, high seating position, great visibility, and a better ride than the Prado, much better.

So in balance, I won't be getting the SR5, unbreakable or not. Seriously, the Hilux is overpriced, underspecced, and uncomfortable. Boyhood nostalgic bubble firmly burst!!

The Triton was a close run thing, but just too many niggles to ignore. I felt I had to continue to justify the investment to myself.

The Navara just eliminates all of the arguments. There's no justification necessary. Looks? better. Specs? Much better. Comfort? Better. Longevity? The same. Awards? More. So as we exited the car, and Charis asked again: "Can we get it please?" I was very happy to answer....

...."Absolutely yes!!"

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I test drove the Triton yesterday, as well as (cheaper) variants of the Hilux. The thing is the Triton is about $10k cheaper, and has more options the Hilux doesn't. But then the Hilux is "unbreakable," has more power than the Triton, but a FAR LESS comfortable ride....

What would you pick....

....and don't say Prado :-)

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My Mo sponsorship is now up to $240. Our team tally is over $1500 in the first week - Sweet!!

Thanks very much to: Kelly, Jon, Kean, Andrew, Phil, Darryl, and Lucy....

I really appreciate your support, it's for a great cause.

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Charlie Annetta and I started facilitating the NSW Services Meetings back in 2005 when we became Managers. 2 years and 24 meetings later, we're both grizzled veterans now, but this is my final one.

From December I start my new role in Developer & Partner Evangelism (you may've heard)...

I can say that Charlie and I have always strived to make the meetings compelling, interactive, fun, and relevant. It very much feels like the end of an era....

...so, watch for the fun surprises. Can't go out without a Bang!!! :)

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It's a simple principle, and one which we ignore at our peril.

Saying "yes" to something, means you're saying "no" to something else.

The problem is, that which we say "yes" to we have a choice about - like more work, volunteering for extra roles at church (I suffer from this one). We could explicitly choose to say "no" at that time. However, the things we're saying "no" to, we have no choice about. They are intangible, and often important, although not urgent. That's what leads to us having "no choice" but to work late, or miss bedtime stories.

"No" doesn't have to be stated as "emphatically not, and never" - but more about that tomorrow. For now, remember, especially if you feeling trapped; especially if you spending more time on work or volunteer activities than on yourself or your family.

Saying "yes" to something, means you're saying "no" to something else.

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yes, Yes, YES, YES!!!

It's been a very long while since we've had as good a Usergroup meeting as we did tonight! For a start we had a great turnout, I mean, there was even 1 woman there, and about 35 attendees. Did I mention that Nick Randolph, Windows Mobile TechEd Presenter and co-villian, has eventually decided to move to Godzone city and grace us with his presence too!! Good on yer Nick, and welcome, finally...

With my new job, I'm not sure about any potential conflicts of interest with me being the "Fearless Leader" of the Usergroup - so this evening, I officially stepped down. Not from being Fearless, but from being the Leader. So officially I'm now the Fearless ex-Leader of the Sydney Windows Mobile Usergroup

...we were also pleased to announce my successor in the role:  John Harsem. (see yesterday's blog about succession planning) Although he does own 2 Windows Mobile Devices, we just have to convince him to forego the iPhone as his Primary device. After this momentous news, we celebrated as only Geeks-R-Us can... ...with Pizza!!! Then, the meat of the meeting:

First cab off the rank was James McCutcheon from J3 Technology, with the best demo of the latest features for Windows mobile in Visual Studio 2008 I've yet seen. Unit testing, LINQ, even Power Tools. Great stuff, and it was good to see James' enthusiasm and passion really come out in his presentation.

Next up was Michael, the Product Manager for HTC here in Australia. He took us through the latest models. What a line-up:

• The Touch - pre-empted the iPhone by months, and is officially released in Australia (unlike the iPhone)
• The Touch Dual - what a lovely phone, not only with the updated OS, more RAM than the Touch (makes it zippier) but has a slide-out keypad. It also runs 3G and has a faster processor. If you think the iPhone is sexy, and want the Touch, this is the phone to buy. For one thing you'll be able to synch directly with your Exchange server - see your Company Directory, open Sharepoint sites, search on your Inbox - try doing that on the iPhone...
• The Shift - this device is the first in a long while that I've seen people literally drooling over. This had the same reaction as the first colour PocketPC (remember the Compaq Aero), the first with Wi-Fi built in. For good reason - full Vista running on 1 Processor, with a Gig of RAM - and at the touch of a button, Windows Mobile 6 running on another processor. Why you ask? Well, think a week of battery life on WM6 - with full push email. Get an email with a 76-slide Powerpoint file, flick to the Vista mode and open the full application rather than the mobile edition on a Mobile Device. This baby has all the best from mobility and portability, and all the best of rich applications, with a great form factor.
• The TyTn II - this is my next device. 3G, Wi-Fi everything, 3MPx camera, front vidcam, slide out QWERTY Keyboard. 3.8"screen. Oodles of RAM. External slots for SIM, MicroSD. AND full GPS. With full Co-Pilot software. Finally, finally, a gadget with everything I want, in the one device. There is no question that this will be my next device. I just need to figure out the funding model. K-JAM and Palm Treo750W for sale - anyone?

Taking us home was Andrew Curtis from PressDigital and C1 Consulting. He demonstrated some great little GPS tracking devices, which you can interrogate to see where a vehicle (e.g. a Fleet vehicle, or delivery vehicle) is. or has been. There was everything from the entry level models, through to the full vehicle telemetry models used for large logistics organisations. I was tempted to get a couple of the little ones for Leah and Em's (my daughters) cars.... :)

Andrew introduced David Niu from Fujitsu, who showed off the latest two models from the new (tiny) Lifebook U range. Small, light, amazing battery life, touch screen Ultra-Mobile PC's. The latest model comes with HSDPA (that's 3G or NextG wireless connectivity at 7.2Mbps) built in.

So after some not inconsiderable time, it seems with no real innovation this year (other than integrating old technologies into "new" models), suddenly the mobility industry seems to be back with a vengeance! Really cool, new, and innovative devices coming down the road over the next couple of months. If you haven't thought of your Christmas present yet - take a peek at the HTC and Fujitsu sites - there's a lot to tempt you...

Wrapping up, John hosted our Monthly prize giveaway - seen here are two happy members (one just signed up tonight) with their new gadgets

Next months meeting will be the Annual SWMUG Christmas Party - this year hosted at the Stamford Hotel on Tuesday 4 December from 7:30pm. We'll be having a fun Trivia night, and if the last few years are anything to go by, there'll be about $5,000 worth of giveaways (last year we gave away 3 Smartphones). So good food, great company, loads of fun, heaps of gadgets, and everyone gets a gift. Be there, bring your significant other, and bring a friend...

Also - if you're on Facebook, be sure to ping me, and join the Sydney Windows Mobile Usergroup

Oh, and if you haven't had the chance, remembered, or simply bothered yet - I'm looking stupid for a month, click on the black square below and sponsor this great cause for Men's Health Issues - Movember!! The reason I'm doing this? My father-in-law suffers from Prostate Cancer, and my bio-dad died of cancer. The funding raised makes an actual difference in the lives of people I know.

I do know how many people ping us for charity. So I don't expect everyone to sponsor me. But any support at all - encouragement, laughter, a kind word, or yes, if you think this is an important issue, some dollars - any support you feel is appropriate, is very welcome.

My progress photos are going up in the Mobile Album on this site.

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Yep. So if you don't know by now, perhaps the grapevine is a bit thin on the ground, or the jungle drums a tad muffled, I've a new job. Probably not a lot I can say until things are formally announced, but suffice to say it's an exciting role managing a team of some of the best technologists I've had fortune to work with.

It got me to thinking though. Success, and moving on, is constrained without a proper succession plan. Do you have one? Have you identified someone who can take your place, and do as good, if not better, a job than you? Or have you made yourself indispensable? The biggest fish in the [insert size] pond!

Besides the opportunity to move on, take a new role, get promoted, and face a bigger challenge, there are other compelling reasons to have a succession plan - no matter your seniority (or in my case juniority):

• Identifying people who can replace you forces you to consider the skills and competencies you need for success in your current role. This insight allows you to build on your strengths and perform better in its own right.
• The same goes for developing someone. To learn a skill; see, hear, and do. To master one; see, hear, do and teach.
• It shows the organisation (team, committee, band) that you are committed to their success, rather than merely your own.

Succession planning is not "managing up;" playing some political game with your superiors to be noticed or profiled. It's the opposite. Looking after your subordinates (or your role if you're not a manager) and ensuring that there's someone on the "slate" competent to take over where you leave off.

So whether you're a consultant, with a specific skill-set, a musician in a band, a member of a committee, or the manager of a work team, have you got a succession plan? You won't be able to move on, if you don't.

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Ever gone technology buying?

I don't mean that quagmire of decisions: What processor should my new laptop have? What's the real performance difference between Intel Core 2 Duo's and AMD Turon's? What is DDR anyway, and why should I care?

No I mean that tech buying when you know exactly what you want? And you want it today...

It's still a quagmire. The quagmire that faced me on Saturday morning when I went to buy my XBox360.

After some research online, it seemed that I wasn't going to get away with hitting just one shop. The best bundle was at Dick Smith Electronics, but they didn't have any of the accessories I wanted, at least not in stock anywhere closer than Wollongong. Ho hum!

So I headed to Macquarie Centre. DSE, JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, and Big W, all in one location. My plan was to get the best deal I could in the first store, then work my way round the shopping Centre. Of course, there's no difference between theory and practice, in theory.

After being totally ignored in the first store I visited, I ended up at EB Games. What a great experience!!! Not only did they have everything I needed, in store, they gave me personal attention (thanks Demetrius), they also matched all the prices advertised at the other stores. Then added warranty on the games (in case of scratched disks etc.) Then gave an added discount on all the items that weren't sold at the other stores.

In, out, all within 10 minutes. Another reason to appreciate the rain this week-end.

Nope, I didn't get the Elite... but that XBox is swe-e-e-et. See you on Live (Rog042).

Now, off to Forza and PGR3...

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Well, it was a bit cool on the ol' chin with the goatee whiskers gone. Takes a little getting used to. And with a "blank slate" I'm taken to imagining just what sort of mo I'll be growing.

What do you think?

A Charlie Chaplin little brush, a RAF handle-bar, or a good ol'70's Trucker T-Bone?

Pop a tenner (or more) into the pot, and give us your vote :)

R42

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