Darren Straight’s Blog

Ever wonderd what website or page would be at the top of a search query list if you typed a single letter of the alphabet into a search engine? Probably not! But hey I wonderd for you, so here’s my results:

Live Search (United States)

Yahoo! Search (United States)

Google Search (United States)

After some research I came across the following page which also talk about these kind of results in more detail: The Google Alphabet - Search Engine Watch

Just noticed this post on the Windows Live Messenger Blog:

And there’s also this one on the Windows Live Hotmail Blog:

So yeah if you’re interested in joining a new offical Windows Live user community, then you know what to do, take the survey!

Not much hidden info can be getherd from the survey, except it’s title is “MSFT Live Pre-Launch ID Survey”, shall be looking forward to what comes out of this!

Here’s a little present for all those of you out there that like to beta test web apps and such before they come out, the link below is an open signup beta invite link for Dropbox, the online storage site which let’s you synchronise your files and folders with your desktop computer.

http://www.getdropbox.com/beta/go

Of course if you love Microsoft or not :( then don’t forget theres Windows Live FolderShare too! ;)

http://www.foldershare.com/clientdownload.aspx

It’s been revealed by unamed sources that Beta testing of Windows Fiji, the next version of Windows Media Center Edition, has been underway for a few weeks now.

At this stage it’s not clear just how many beta testers are on the program at the current test phase and if the program will expand into a larger audience any time soon. But one thing is for sure is that Microsoft are trying to keep this under wraps by putting all beta testers under a strict non-disclosure agreement, eventually something will leak it always seems too (all companies have the same problems), but until then, we just have a comment delivered via a corporate spokesperson:

Windows Media Center Fiji is expected for October 2008.

The UK Launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 is now underway at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham.

I Loved the Drumers that started just before Jonathan Pereras (General Manager of Application Platform Marketing for Microsoft) Keynote started, adds more excitement to the event.

In the keynote we are expected to see some demos from Julius Davies, Mark Quirk and Keith Burns.

Update 12:00: As expected in the keynote we saw some interesting demos demostrating Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. Affter this I decided to stay in Hall 1 for the Core Infrastructure Improvements in Windows Server 2008 presentation with Matt Mcspirit and Jane Lewis. I’m now sitting down in Hall 3 by the Xbox Gaming Area having lunch. The ICC is pretty big, lots of halls and areas to visit, so thinking of checking out the place.

But for those of you not here, if you havent already may I suggest you check out the Microsoft Virtual Launch page:

http://www.microsoft.com/virtualevents/uk/vle.aspx

This week I’m on Holiday with an exciting week ahead of me.

Yesterday I started working on my new blog theme.

Today I visited Thorpe Park with my new Merlin Annual Pass. While right now I’m staying at the Arc Apartments within the Arcadian Centre in Birmingham which I must say are great value for money considering their location in the heart of Birmingham.

Tomorrow I will be at the UK Launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 at the International Convention Centre here in Birmingham then after that I will be heading home for a bowling event with work.

And this weekend I will be travelling to Alton Towers for two days of fun with mates from work!

So yeah a great week ahead of me. If anyones going to the launch tomorrow - see you there!

On the 19th of March 2008 both IT Professionals and Developers alike will be flocking to the ICC (The International Convention Centre) in Birmingham for the UK launch of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008.

But the question is have you registerd to attend for this exciting hereos happen {here} event? And if so which session tracks are you going to, IT Professional or Developers? And if not, then why not, as it’s too late now to register, all places are full!

Don’t worry though you’re in luck, can still register for the Virtual Launch Experience (VLE) Wave of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008.

Check it out here, it shall be just as interesting too see how the launch goes online.

For those of you going to the hereos happen {here} event in Birmingham, let me know, as I myself shall be attending the IT Professional tracks.

Just found a cool video (better quality here) of inside British Airways Heathrow Terminal 5 Building, the reporter is Ginny McGrath, and she shows us inside the terminal lounges and also interviews some of the people behind it like Christopher Pearson, one of the Artists behind Terminal 5’s 3D glass panels and moving animated wallpaper artwork.

I really am quite excited about visiting Terminal 5 on the 7th of MArch, it shall be interesting to see what it’s like!

Classic family card game Snap is making a comeback with an exciting twist today as comedy duo Dick and Dom unveil, BigSnapSearch.com, which gives you the chance to win fantastic prizes every time you search online.

Ditching their usual ‘Bogeys’ catchphrase, comedy duo Dick and Dom want to hear people across the UK yelling ‘Snap’ as they use BigSnapSearch.com for their everyday search queries, where if a pair of matching cards flash up online, you will instantly win an amazing prize.

Dick and Dom, who are fronting the campaign, comment: “Forget poker and blackjack, Snap is where it’s at! We both used to play the game as kids and now we’re calling for its return with the launch of BigSnapSearch.com. Big Snap is fantastic! By simply carrying out your everyday searches you could end up paintballing with your friends or even jetting off to the Caribbean!â€

BigSnapSearch.com runs for eight weeks with prizes given away every hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ranging from Virgin experience days, to Virgin vouchers, through to a star prize for two to Richard Branson’s very own exclusive Caribbean hideaway, Necker Island.

So whether you’re searching for local cinema times, the latest news, or the answer to a mind-boggling question, BigSnapSearch.com will have the answer you want and you could also bag yourself a great prize!

Cynthia Crossley, UK Search director, comments: “BigSnapSearch.com is a great free prize draw where you can find relevant and timely information powered by Live Search and win prizes along the way. Spread the word and get all your friends to search via BigSnapSearch.com and you could bag the prize of a lifetime!â€

For your chance to win fantastic prizes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, log onto www.BigSnapSearch.com and start searching! SNAP!

Last month I was contacted by Steve Cater who works at vccp as part of O2’s Marketing Team. He asked me whether I would be interested in trialling one of O2’s new phones in a seeding program, similar to that of the O2 cocoon seeding program which gave developers and technology lovers a chance to trial the phone. The idea sounded interesting and it looked like the cocoon program did well so I said yes to testing this new O2 Phone (didn’t know the name of it then).

Last week a package arrived, I opened it up and lo and behold it was an O2 Xda Orbit 2 Phone along with all the necessary accessories and a sim card. I got straight into taking some photos of this shiny new device along with testing it.

Technical Specifications:

General

Display

Memory

Networking

Digital Camera

Power

What’s in the Box!

Inside the O2 Xda Orbit 2 Box you will find the following:

Applications and Settings

The Today Screen and O2 Custom Today Plug-in

The Today Screen is pretty much the same as most Windows Mobile Phones, however there are some nice additions that can be added to the today screen, that of which include:

Programs 

A nice list of programs and applications are found on the device:

Audio Manager and Audio Booster 

As well as Windows Media Player, the Xda Orbit 2 comes with the HTC Audio Manager and Audio Booster, which lets you create, edit and delete playlist and listen to your songs which in turn you can fine tune as you have the ability to vary the Bass, Treble, and 3D effect of the sound output as well as choosing from various pre-defined profiles.

Camera and Camera Album with Slideshow

Overall I love the Camera and The Camera interface, though I would love to see the camera have a flash or even just a light, comes in handy for them close night shots!

 

Here’s some example photos, all photos were taken with the Xda Orbit 2 on it’s highest resolution and quality settings.

Communications 

Communicating to someone is simple and effective just like it should be with it’s smart dialling feature and big keys. The Video calling feature looks great though I must admit I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet. The sounds great on voice calling though.

CoPilot Live 7

The Xda Orbit 2 having both built in GPS and CoPilot Live 7 is great, I’ve taken it to the test on both short and long routes, the longest so far being from Sittingbourne in Kent to Gatwick Airport. (49 Miles). Shall be using it when I travel to Heathrow Airport soon on a press tour of the new BAA Terminal 5 Building and again when I travel up to the Alton Towers Theme Park in 3 weeks time.

Having GPS and CoPilot 7 makes me want to switch from my MDA Vario 2 which has no GPS, though it does have something else which I value, that being a sliding keyboard.

 

FM Radio 

Haven’t used it a lot yet due to the fact that every time you want to use it you have to plug in the headsets but I’m sure if I do switch fully to this phone then I’ll soon be using it, always great to have some live music on your phone!

RSS Hub 

I love this RSS Hub, it helps you keep up to date with the latest news from your favourite news sites, blogs and podcasts.

Settings 

There’s a ton of settings options to help you customise the Xda Orbit 2 just the way you want it. 

Touch Keyboards and Keypads 

The Xda Orbit 2 has 6 different ways you can enter text onto the screen, the newest ones being the Touch Keyboard and Keypad, now while these are great, I do somewhat miss having a physical keyboard like my MDA Vario 2 Sliding keyboard. On the other hand however not having a sliding keyboard makes the Xda feel much more lighter and less bulkier. So I guess it’s just a case of getting away from the good old keyboard and getting to grips with touch keyboards.

 

TouchFLO 

TouchFLO has been added to gives you better touch panel experience. Using TouchFLO, you can easily scroll and pan the screen by sliding your fnger on the touch panel. TouchFLO also has the Touch Cube where you can add your favourite contacts, access media, launch programs, and more. Also while on a web page, document, or list (such as contacts list etc.), you can slide your finger upward to scroll down or slide your finger downward to scroll up. To scroll to the right, slide your fnger to the left. To scroll to the left, slide your fnger to the right. 

Overall Conclusion!

I love the O2 Xda Orbit 2, it looks great, it’s weighs less and is is less bulkier than my T-Mobile MDA Vario 2. It also has GPS which is a great addition to a mobile phone for someone like me who loves travelling. I can’t wait to start using it more and more every day.

However there are some problems, unlike my T-Mobile MDA Vario 2 the O2 Xda Orbit 2 doesn’t feature a physical sliding keyboard, just it’s virtual touch keyboards and keypads, so that is somewhat disappointing as I have got quite attached to my sliding keyboard as I use it regularly to write texts, emails and posts while at tech events. Maybe I just need to have some more time away from the sliding keyboard and more time getting used to the virtual keyboards and keypads.

Also there’s no Flash or Flash Light for the camera so night photos is a no.

Here’s a quick list of some Pros (The Good) and Cons (The bad) of the O2 Xda Orbit 2:

Pros (The Good)

Cons (The Bad)

Now the question is should I switch fully from my T-Mobile MDA Vario 2 to the O2 Xda Orbit 2? As doing so would mean I would have to change my mobile number from T-Mobile to O2. Also I’m thinking about paying for unlimited web/internet each month depending on what I do, however there’s pros and cons to both T-Mobile and O2.

T-Mobile as a larger fair use policy of 1GB (The Max plan is 10GB) per month on it’s so called unlimited web access plan, however there’s no HSDPA Network coverage in my area with T-Mobile so it’s quite slow - get annoyed at how slow it is at times when the pages don’t even load.

O2 however has a much lower fair use policy of 200MB per month on it’s so called unlimited web access plan, however O2 does have HSDPA Network coverage in my area and I love it! Just a slight problem if you normally expected to only use 200MB per month with HSDPA that would soon be overrun.

It seems there is a O2 Web Max Plan which is 3GB per month for £30, I’ll have to look into that!

Special thanks and Links 

Just want to say special thanks to Steve Cater who works at vccp as part of O2’s Marketing Team for giving me the opportunity to test the O2 Xda Orbit 2, it’s certainly been a great experience so far and I’m looking forward too seeing what else I can do with it, there’s always great tweaks and stuff over at the HTC Polaris section on the XDA Developer Forums.

Here’s some useful links: