Goodbye ActiveSync, Hello Windows Mobile Device Center

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/db983da1-8f87-4dd2-828a-4df238a3138b.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/technet/wi...f238a3138b.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Windows Mobile Device Center is the new name for ActiveSync in Microsoft® Windows Vista™, and provides overall device management features for your Windows Mobile-based devices in Windows Vista, including smartphones and pocket PCs. All of the features previously available in ActiveSync are available in Windows Vista, including synchronization and setting up your partnership. However, most of the user interface has changed in an effort to enhance your ability to easily and intuitively find device-related tasks and improve the overall usability of those tasks. Please note that only a portion of Windows Mobile Device Center is included in this release of Windows Vista. This primarily includes core device connectivity components, which allows the operating system to recognize that a Windows Mobile-based device has connected and load the appropriate device drivers loaded and services. Included with this is our Windows Mobile Device Center base application that enables some basic functionality, including the ability to browse the contents of your device, use desktop passthrough to sync with Microsoft Exchange, and change some general computer and connection settings."</i><br /><br /><img src=http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Vista-04DeviceConnected.jpg><br /><br />Finally we leave ActiveSync with the next major Windows version. This article outlines a bit more about the device center and its proposed features. If it works better than AS in some areas, that's all I care about!

[WorksForTurkeys]

Very pretty; but you're right: does it work correctly now?

Beauty is only skinned-deep.

[pivaska]

Wonderful....when?????? So far we still have AS and whenever this comes out it will only be part of it. Does it sound buggy already?

[DaleReeck]

Is it better than ActiveSync 4? Talk about setting the bar low. It can't possibly be any worst than AS4. If the Vista version is a piece of crap, it will still be staggeringly better than AS4.

[pocketpcadmirer]

I would be happy with this feature offered by Vista. Then, I wont have to carry Activesync CD(I dont want to use cardexport). Then I would be wireless too if it supports connection via wi-fi or BT

Can Jon confirm this ?

Sunny

[PPCRules]

As hard as it has been to get ActiveSync fixed, we can expect this major of a change to not work well at the beginning, but also to not get fixed any quicker than ActiveSync.

Could well be that a year from now we are exchanging fond memories how well off we were with ActiveSync.

[Clinton Fitch]

Oh I so hope that they keep the completely ambiguous Error Codes! I mean, they are so user friendly... 8O

Sorry, did I say that outloud?

:oops:

[Jason Dunn]

Hmm. I'm not sure, maybe I'm mis-reading this, but I sense a slight bit of cynicism in this thread...

:lol:

[CTSLICK]

Hmm. I'm not sure, maybe I'm mis-reading this, but I sense a slight bit of cynicism in this thread...

:lol:

You are correct sir! In fact your gift for understatements is astounding. :lol: :wink:
The cynacism is well founded in my opinion based on the AS track record, but hope never dies

[JonathanWardRogers]

I'm running Vista CTP3 on one of my machines, and so far no luck getting the device center to actually do anything. So it's a lot better than AS so far. ;-) Seriously, it looks like it will be nice, but like so many other things in Vista, it's not ready to release yet. I've beta'd the last four OSes, and with the exception of 2000, they are really alphas.

[Foxbat121]

I'm running Vista CTP3 on one of my machines, and so far no luck getting the device center to actually do anything. So it's a lot better than AS so far. ;-) Seriously, it looks like it will be nice, but like so many other things in Vista, it's not ready to release yet. I've beta'd the last four OSes, and with the exception of 2000, they are really alphas.

ActiveSync functions (except for the basic device sync like explore files) are not in current release of CTP yet.

[Damion Chaplin]

Why would they use a picture of a 3-year-old PPC on their latest-and-greatest? :?:

[Jonathan1]

OK I’m going to be the pessimist of the bunch. Countdown until Windows Mobile devices no longer work with XP (Or simply doesn’t ship with Activesync) in 12 months . . .11. . . 10. . . 9

[Patrick Y.]

Do you think they will add Wifi sync again?

[mmidgley]

Of course we would all hope that it functions better than AS ever did.

But the question that comes to my mind is, "Why is it tied to the next major Windows OS release? Shouldn't it be tied to Windows Mobile OS releases??" In other words, why isn't it an application that we install on XP now?

And yes, it had better put back in Wifi/network sync. duh.

m.

[WorksForTurkeys]

Instead of it functioning better than it has in the past, how about it functions for once as it was originally advertised? I can't recall all its functions ever all working at the same time, in the same release.

[ctmagnus]

Why would they use a picture of a 3-year-old PPC on their latest-and-greatest? :?:

Actually, I think that's the top of one three-year-old PPC stuck on the bottom of another three-year-old ppc. ;)

[snoop244]

the good news for me, at least, is that I can now sync drm-protected music without it failing after 15 songs.

[ppcsurfr]

I hope this works...

Does changing the name mean it will be better...

I hope!

I hope to see something else too... the ability to backup email, sms, and MMS to Outlook...

Am I asking for much?

[ctmagnus]

I hope to see something else too... the ability to backup email, sms, and MMS to Outlook...

You can already back up SMS messages to Outlook, using Jeyo Mobile Extender (http://www.jeyo.com/extender.asp). You can send them from Outlook as well.

[SassKwatch]

Perhaps I'm reading this wrong, but it sounds to me like this *IS* AS.....with a pretty interface.(??)

Oh, yippee.

[TimFountain]

Perhaps I'm reading this wrong, but it sounds to me like this *IS* AS.....with a pretty interface.(??)

Oh, yippee.

Yep, I feel the same - MS are just polishing a turd. It might shine, but inside is it still brown and smelly.

Is it me, or is this whole Vista thing going to fall flat on its face? MS have been working on Vista for years, and almost daily I hear of something else that has been dropped or reduced in functionality. Then there are the confusing 9 versions or whatever it is this week, and so far I have yet to hear of one aspect of Vista that makes me want to upgrade. I see problems for MS....

[Richard76]

At the risk of being seen as a TC, I have an alternative suggestion. You know that Treo 650 you have had your eye on...knowing it's not quite as powerful as your Windows device but longing for that better "one-handed experience". Well, now is the time to give it a try!!!

Let's see...a miserable attempt at upgrading A$ from 3.8 to 4.0 AND even 4.1 and now "a whole new ball game with Vista". My take is that we won't see a STABLE sync platform for Windows for about another year. Plenty of time to buy and play with your new Treo.

[salem]

oh, it'd be a bad news.

Activesync is already one of the worst invention in PDA history. It makes users trouble when two PCs are sync with one Pocket Pc, or two Pocket Pcs with one PC.

The new system is going to mean that the it will be more integrated with windows platform, and it'd be more difficult for any third party to make simple and neat replacement for us.

[Darius Wey]

The new system is going to mean that the it will be more integrated with windows platform, and it'd be more difficult for any third party to make simple and neat replacement for us.

The sync architecture hasn't changed. Long story short, it's ActiveSync with a new UI.

If third-party developers still want to create replacement sync solutions, they can.

[Sven Johannsen]

I would be happy with this feature offered by Vista. Then, I wont have to carry Activesync CD(I dont want to use cardexport). Then I would be wireless too if it supports connection via wi-fi or BT

Can Jon confirm this ?

Sunny I wouldn't get too excited yet. It does not appear to be integrated into Vista per se. There is anoter thing called Sync Center that is, but I haven't quite figured out what that should do. WMDC is an add on like AS, but it appears that if you connect a WM device to a PC, it reaches out to Windows Update and loads WMDC for you...assuming you have connectivity and permission of course. Doesn't look like it just comes with every Vista install.

Now, I do think I was able to browse my PPC via Vista Explorer, before I ever got WMDC, but I don't recall exactly, and WMDC showed up shortly after that and I haven't re-built to verify that. That would be a plus and cover most of the scenarios that likely come up wanting to connect a PPC to a non-syncing strange PC. If someone has a Vista build loaded without WMDC, and no internet connection on it, hook up a PPC and see.

[LPC]

Well I'm RC1'ed up right now. Need to get syncing tomorrow so will let ya know what happens :).

[Sven Johannsen]

Well I'm RC1'ed up right now. Need to get syncing tomorrow so will let ya know what happens :).

RC1 or pre-RC1? No WMDC in pre.

[LPC]

Well I'm RC1'ed up right now. Need to get syncing tomorrow so will let ya know what happens :).

RC1 or pre-RC1? No WMDC in pre.
Full RC1, Build 5600, I'm on the official Connect beta. Anyway the crapy thing is that it doesn't appear to load.

Nice big fat Windows Mobile Device Center icon, a double click does nothing. And I've worked through a few docs off the webto try to suss it out. No joy at the mo, logged the fault with MS.

[LPC]

Build 5728 running and it's still dissabled code apparently ... jeezz are we ever going to get to test it !

[Darius Wey]

Build 5728 running and it's still dissabled code apparently ... jeezz are we ever going to get to test it !

The basic WMDC driver is included (that is, what allows you to sync music and pictures, and browse the device's contents), but the full WMDC application is still being released separately. There is a public testing version of the latter in the making, but unfortunately, it's a waiting game from here on.

[ctmagnus]

I found this blog post (http://www.gottabemobile.com/SyncingOutlookWithVistaRC1Finally.aspx) today regarding syncing with Vista. It works for him, so applying the hack mentioned in the post should let it work for others as well.

[peterawest]

Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 for Windows Vista (x86) is now available for download for those running Vista RC1 and above:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c23c8e6a-a72d-4aef-9663-31ce2fefbada&amp;DisplayLang=en

I'm installing RC2 on my test computer right now, so once it's up and running, I'll try this out.

[peterawest]

OK,

I've finished installing Vista RC2 and then I installed the update from Microsoft.

All is now working great with my older iPAQ 1945. :D