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View Full Version : Introducing OneNote Mobile (Beta) for Windows Mobile


Mike Temporale
05-28-2006, 03:30 PM
Last November, Jerry <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9704">posted</a> about the possibility that OneNote Mobile would be shipping with Office 12. Well, in case you haven't heard, Microsoft has made Office 2007 Beta 2 available. Part of that beta is OneNote Mobile. Although, you wouldn't know OneNote Mobile was included until after you have installed the OneNote beta and happened to connect your device while OneNote was running. Once that happens, you'll see a little balloon message from the system tray indicating that a mobile device has been connected and you can install OneNote Mobile by clicking the balloon. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060526-ON-Home.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><i>Figure 1: Once installed, I wasted no time launching OneNote Mobile and creating a new note. Anyone want to guess what the note was called? ;)</i> <!> <br /><br />OneNote Mobile is like a super-charged version of Notes. If you've ever used Notes on a Pocket PC, you'll understand what I'm talking about. Those of you that have only ever had a Smartphone, don't know what you're missing since there is no built-in Note application. Besides the obvious lack of ink support, OneNote allows you to embed recordings and pictures along with some simple formating options for text, like bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough. You can also create bulleted or numbered lists that will sync back with OneNote on your desktop. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060526-ON-Note.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060526-ON-Menu.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><i>Figure 2: OneNote allows you to insert pictures and recordings into your note.</i><br /><br />Alright, so you can create notes on your Smartphone, but how do they look when you sync them back to the desktop? With the limited formating options, I wasn't expecting too much in the way of looks once it got back to the desktop. Boy was I ever wrong. Once the note is synced back to the desktop, it looks as professional as if I created on a feature rich desktop client, complete with a date and a timestamp. :D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060526-ON-DesktopLarge.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060526-ON-DesktopSmall.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><br /><i>Figure 3: This Note was created on the Smartphone and synced back to the desktop client. The resulting document was much better than expected. Click on the image to see the full size image ( 900x800 - 220KB)</i><br /><br />I've never been much of a OneNote guy, but I think that's all going to change now. I was stuck with the impression that OneNote was just for Tablet users and it didn't offer much to me, the average user. OneNote Mobile has changed that feeling. :) <br /><br />If you're interested in trying out OneNote Mobile, or Office 2007 Beta 2, you can download a copy from Microsoft's <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/default.mspx">website.</a> Typical warning about using beta software applies. To learn more about OneNote Mobile for the Pocket PC, check out Darius Wey's post over on our sister site, <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,48979">Pocket PC Thoughts</a>

Pete Paxton
05-28-2006, 05:17 PM
How did you get it to sync with your desktop? I downloaded the beta 2007 version of office and Onenote last night. I now have onenote on my SDA and attempted to sync to my pc but it just will not. If I create a note on my pc in the mobile section of Onenote, I cannot get it to sync to my phone either. Onenote is definitely checked in activesync. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I can create notes in either program but I can't sync them.

Mike Temporale
05-28-2006, 05:24 PM
How did you get it to sync with your desktop? I downloaded the beta 2007 version of office and Onenote last night. I now have onenote on my SDA and attempted to sync to my pc but it just will not. If I create a note on my pc in the mobile section of Onenote, I cannot get it to sync to my phone either. Onenote is definitely checked in activesync. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I can create notes in either program but I can't sync them.

Once it's installed on your device, disconnect your device from Active Sync, then reconnect. Then in AS, click tools/Options and turn on OneNote conduit. :)

Darius Wey
05-28-2006, 06:32 PM
I now have onenote on my SDA and attempted to sync to my pc but it just will not. If I create a note on my pc in the mobile section of Onenote, I cannot get it to sync to my phone either. Onenote is definitely checked in activesync. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I can create notes in either program but I can't sync them.

I'd say 5% of the time, this happens. In such cases, there does appear to be something broken in the sync when the device is continuously connected to the PC. For example, a new note on the PC might not instantly copy over to the device, and vice versa. It's usually the case, however, that it works without any problems. But if it doesn't, do as Mike says and disconnect your device and then reconnect.

Pete Paxton
05-28-2006, 07:03 PM
Well, I think I'm going to give up. After not being able to get it to sync, I tried uninstalling it from my SDA. Now when I connect to AS, I do not get the balloon to re-install it. After I sync, I see Onenote under options on my SDA but it's grayed out. On my AS on my PC, Onenote is listed but there is no longer any square to check. I tried deleting the Windows PC server from my device but when I sync again it just recreates itself. Any suggestions? Glad to hear it's working for most people.

Kris Kumar
05-28-2006, 07:04 PM
OneNote Mobile Rocks! Ability to create a note with text, photo and audio, and being able to sync it with the desktop - awesome! 8)

I heard that OneNote on the desktop can OCR the photos, which means I can take photo of a magazine/book page and have OneNote search it - awesome.

Darius Wey
05-28-2006, 07:41 PM
Well, I think I'm going to give up. After not being able to get it to sync, I tried uninstalling it from my SDA. Now when I connect to AS, I do not get the balloon to re-install it. After I sync, I see Onenote under options on my SDA but it's grayed out. On my AS on my PC, Onenote is listed but there is no longer any square to check. I tried deleting the Windows PC server from my device but when I sync again it just recreates itself. Any suggestions? Glad to hear it's working for most people.

The notification bubble isn't the only way to install OneNote Mobile. You have two additional choices:

(1) Copy the OneNoteMobile.CAB file in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\1033 from your PC to your Smartphone, and perform a local device-based installation.

(2) In OneNote 2007, select Tools > Options > Other > Install OneNote Mobile.

Darius Wey
05-28-2006, 07:47 PM
I heard that OneNote on the desktop can OCR the photos, which means I can take photo of a magazine/book page and have OneNote search it - awesome.

I tried it. The concept is nice, but it didn't work out too well for me. I took a picture of a black and white business card with legible text, and made OneNote OCR it only to get a whole bunch of jibberish. I'm not sure if it's due to a poor camera (which 99% of Pocket PCs and Smartphones are plagued with), or a poor OCR engine in OneNote - or a combination of both. Oh, well. ;)

Pete Paxton
05-28-2006, 09:57 PM
Well here's the deal. I have Onenote on my SDA and on my PC. I have a "Windows PC" partnership as well as an Exchange server partnership. Onenote is checked under the Windows PC partnership on my pc and it's also checked on my SDA but it is highlighted in gray. When I sync, AS on my pc states it is looking for changes next to the onenotes icon. It also states it is looking for changes on the SDA but the green AS ball just spins and spins on both devices without syncing anything. I normally don't use AS on my PC because my 4smartphone Exchange usually just works over the air. I wish I knew which was causing the problem so I could throw it across the room. I haven't been this frustrated in a while. I just don't think I'm meant to sync Onenotes. Any other suggestions? Thanks for letting me rant.

Mike Temporale
05-29-2006, 01:54 AM
crispeto, Try turning off your firewall. Could be something weird going on with that.

Pete Paxton
05-29-2006, 04:15 AM
I appreciate that suggestion. I actually have to turn off my firewall every time I sync. I'm not going to fuss with it anymore. I think it's a great program and like I said, I'm glad it's working for others. It just wasn't meant for me. There are other notes programs I can use. Actually what I really wish is that someone would come out with a .doc compatible program with a few editing tools built in. Thanks for trying to help.

Kris Kumar
05-29-2006, 04:22 AM
How about deleting the ActiveSync partnership on the desktop and creating a new by connecting your Smartphone again?

Pete Paxton
05-29-2006, 04:39 AM
I may try that. Do you think it's an AS issue? Onenotes seems to work fine on both my SDA and laptop. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Darius Wey
05-29-2006, 06:00 AM
From the information you've provided us with, it does sound like a firewall issue. But before you resort to disabling it each time you sync, have a read through this troubleshooting guide (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/help/activesync/default.mspx) and see if it provides any fixes.

Mike Temporale
05-29-2006, 01:59 PM
Hey crispeto, are you running Vista B2? I hear that there are some problems with OneNote sync'ing betwen the desktop and the mobile client on the latest build of Vista. Just thought I would mention it in case you're running Vista. :wink:

Kris Kumar
05-29-2006, 02:02 PM
On Vista, can you sync anything (other than music/video files)?

Mike Temporale
05-29-2006, 02:06 PM
On Vista, can you sync anything (other than music/video files)?

Not sure. From what I've heard, yes. It's just OneNote. But, I haven't actually installed the Vista Beta yet. (Don't have a free machine to play around with right now).

Sven Johannsen
05-29-2006, 04:22 PM
On Vista, can you sync anything (other than music/video files)?

At this point no. It appears that a version of AS that is supported by Vista isn't available yet. When you try to load the current version it just tells you it is not compatible, but implies that you should just be able to hook up your device. You can, but the what is available now does only support media, via Media Player 11 (included in Vista Beta 2) That works fine, but seems to have nothing to do with AS.

The file management is a bit better now too. The mobile device does show up in File manager and when you open it appears as having two drives (on my Wizard), the main memory and the flash card. Either opens to the root and shows folders. You no longer go straight into My Documents and have to back up to get to Programs, etc. Interstingly you can double click a file on the PPC and it will actually open now instead of just showing properties. It does appear to copy temporarily and then open so it is not openning it in place, and you can't get thumbnail views of pictures.

Previous indications (MEDC podcasts) indicated that the Vista Sync Center would be launcing AS for mobile devices. What actually happens now is connecting a PPC to Vista brings up a "Windows Mobile Device Center". Can't tell yet if that is going to be a replacement for AS, or just a launch pad.

Kris Kumar
05-29-2006, 04:37 PM
Thanks Sven. I have been playing with Vista, pretty much every build and haven't found any new functionality, other than what you described. In fact my previous comment was almost sarcastic to some point. I am surprised that it is Beta 2 and ActiveSync is supposed to be integrated (with SyncCenter) but I don't see it.

My thoughts are over here:
http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10478

Pete Paxton
05-29-2006, 06:45 PM
I tell you what. I don't remember when I've been this frustrated with an electronic device. So here's what I did. I deleted the entire partnership. I configured my firewall to the guide you pointed (thanks by the way - that was a big help). I even put my usb cable for my phone into a new port. It finds my device, sets up a partnership. Detects that I have an exchange server and creates a new Windows PC establishment and "favorites" and "onenotes" are checked to be synched. Once the synching begins the Exchange server states "synchronizing folders" and onenotes states "looking for changes" and it stays that way with the green AS ball just spinning. It would stay that way all day if I let it. Grrrrrrr, what am I doing wrong? I am using a month old Dell XPS M140 Centrino laptop with Windows XP media center edition. Sure has been frustrating. Thanks for listening.

qyv42
05-29-2006, 10:25 PM
Just curious (I don't have Office 12 installed) - can you cut/copy/paste text within OneNote on Smartphone? That's the one thing that I miss from a Pocket PC. :cry:

Jerry Raia
05-30-2006, 12:08 AM
Just curious (I don't have Office 12 installed) - can you cut/copy/paste text within OneNote on Smartphone? That's the one thing that I miss from a Pocket PC. :cry:

You can't even do those things on the PocketPC version of OneNote. It is very bizarre. :?

Mike Temporale
05-30-2006, 01:30 AM
You would have to get a third party utility like xbar, if you want copy/paste functionality.

Jerry Raia
05-30-2006, 04:37 AM
You would have to get a third party utility like xbar, if you want copy/paste functionality.

On the Smartphone yes, but it should be built into the PocketPC. The fact that it isn't is bizarre.

JCRiverRats
05-30-2006, 02:03 PM
Just wanted to say - GREAT JOB! The article about One Note has really got my interest. I have dowloaded the BETA and willl install.

Thanks again,

the Rats

Sven Johannsen
05-31-2006, 06:19 AM
I am surprised that it is Beta 2 and ActiveSync is supposed to be integrated (with SyncCenter) but I don't see it.
I did see your other post after commenting here and found it excellent. In a couple of instances though I have seen reference to the idea that the Sync Center would be a way to access AS, more than it would be integrated in to the Sync Center. It concerns me a bit that there is this Windows Mobile Device Center as well, which also seems like it might launch some new version of AS. In any case it just seems that the normal AS functionality isn't available in Vista yet. In that case I would be less concerned if I believed they are just updating AS, than if I believed it was to be an integral part of Sync Center or Windows Mobile Device Center and they aren't any farther along than they are.

I do have a frightening thought though. What if someone decided that we didn't need anything but media sync on the PC, because the PIM stuff sync with Exchange 8O

Kris Kumar
05-31-2006, 11:50 AM
I do have a frightening thought though. What if someone decided that we didn't need anything but media sync on the PC, because the PIM stuff sync with Exchange 8O

I don't think that would happen anytime soon. I think there are a number of users who use desktop based Outlook to store the PIM information.

psohl
06-01-2006, 01:00 AM
Pretty Cool! I could see myself using something like this to keep thoughts on various projects organized. I like the numbered and bulleted lists - now it's not so bad, not having pocket word. Odd that you can't delete voice notes though, like you can with images. I was looking for a way to syncronize voice notes with my desktop...this may be the ticket :D

Kris Kumar
06-04-2006, 01:01 AM
Okay, I have been using the OneNote Mobile for some time now. The most annoying thing - Why can't there be an option to store the notes on the storage card instead of the phone memory? :evil:

Jerry Raia
06-04-2006, 01:15 AM
For all the hype, the mobile version is pretty marginal. :?

Kris Kumar
06-04-2006, 01:43 AM
For all the hype, the mobile version is pretty marginal. :?

On the Smartphone it is a great application. [Except for the problem I mentioned above.]

On a Pocket PC it is lousy, because the app does not take advantage of the touch screen. :twisted:

JCRiverRats
06-05-2006, 04:08 PM
So, here is what I take away from this thread...

1 - One Note works OK, on a SmartPhone with the following exceptions.
1a - Can't cut and paste (darn need that)
2a - Can't force file save to the SD card (darn need that)
2 - Active Synch stinks in Vista Beta 2 (that's very bad)

So, with the above issues why use OneNote on the SmartPhone?

Thanks for a great thread! Very informative.

JC RiverRat

Mike Temporale
06-05-2006, 05:24 PM
So, here is what I take away from this thread...

1 - One Note works OK, on a SmartPhone with the following exceptions.
1a - Can't cut and paste (darn need that)

You can't cut and paste on a Smartphone anyway. So what's this have to do with OneNote? It's not the job of the OneNote Mobile team to bring cut and paste to the Smartphone platform. ;)

2a - Can't force file save to the SD card (darn need that)

Not really a big deal for some of us. I don't mind anyway. It's a small price to pay for such a good app.

2 - Active Synch stinks in Vista Beta 2 (that's very bad)

Again, nothing to do with the OneNote guys. Vista is still beta, and so is OneNote ;)

JCRiverRats
06-05-2006, 05:30 PM
Yep - all good points.
Thanks for setting me straight.