ActiveSync Integrated Into Longhorn? [Archive]

Ed Hansberry

08-21-2003, 01:00 PM

<a href="http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/longhorn_aero.asp">http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/longhorn_aero.asp</a> Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows has been keeping everyone up to speed on how the next version of Windows, codenamed "Longhorn", will look. He put up one screen shot yesterday that may be of particular interest to Pocket PC and Smartphone users. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030821-longhornsynclg.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030821-longhornsyncsm.jpg" /></a> ActiveSync integrated? Click for larger image No details were given. It could be that there is going to be a general synchronization service built into Longhorn and Microsoft would release specs to OEMs of all products to just plug into. That would mean that for all devices, Palm, Pocket PC, cell phones, MP3 players, etc. that one sync manager does the whole thing, which would be nice. Pure speculation though. The only downside is Longhorn isn't due until sometime in 2005.

Peter Foot

08-21-2003, 01:13 PM

Must admit I saw the screen yesterday on winsupersite and thought wow that would be neat - as long as its more robust than ActiveSync :)
Seems to integrate with other Sync services such as offline folders - a kind of "Everything but the kitchen sync" approach :wink:

freitasm

08-21-2003, 01:14 PM

Would be nice to adhere to a standard. SyncML would do just right. Or to a well designed record level sync, like Palm Hotsync. That would be nice :wink:

marlof

08-21-2003, 01:30 PM

iRock <-> iPod
SyncManager <-> iSync MSN <-> .mac

They are getting very similar. ;)

petvas

08-21-2003, 01:58 PM

Microsoft is preparing a major OS overhaul with Longhorn. The Home User experience will never be the same. Activesync will be integrated into Longhorn, but I'll guess it will see the light also as Activesync 4.0 first!!!
It will be totally overwritten and redesigned... 8)

Jason Dunn

08-21-2003, 02:36 PM

Wow, cool. That's been something we've been asking for as MVPs every year we've been down there for meetings. I don't know if our feedback had any impact, but it's nice to see that Microsoft is realizing the importance of devices. And you know that if it's integrated into the OS, Microsoft won't let it be as nasty as ActiveSync can be some days. :wink:

Words can't describe how excited I am about Longhorn. Screenshots like this make me SO excited:

http://www.winsupersite.com/images/showcase/aero-02.png

:mrgreen: That just looks SO damn cool!!!

Jason Dunn

08-21-2003, 02:39 PM

Isn't it sad that not even Microsoft knows there's a space in "Pocket PC". :roll: :lol:

Paragon

08-21-2003, 02:50 PM

I wonder.....it looks like there might be a possibility to sync more than one Pocket PC at a time? 8)

Dave

Jason Dunn

08-21-2003, 03:24 PM

Paragon

08-21-2003, 03:31 PM

I wonder.....it looks like there might be a possibility to sync more than one Pocket PC at a time? 8)

Looks like it, because it appears that multiple devices can be connected at the same time. However, I'm not sure if Outlook can handle multiple connections...

Yeah, right after posting I thought about that.

If all were being syncronized a few seconds apart do you think it would work? Each would be as up to date as the Outlook folders of the last to sync.

Dave

Ed Hansberry

08-21-2003, 03:43 PM

Foo Fighter

08-21-2003, 03:44 PM

So device syncing is now handled via a "master" controler? That is a welcome improvement, and not just for PPC. This could produce less sync errors and simplify file/content transfer. But is this just a visual front-end running on top of ActiveSync, as a backbone? Or is this new embedded sync manager actually replacing ActiveSync?

Paragon

08-21-2003, 03:46 PM

Ed Hansberry

08-21-2003, 03:50 PM

Yeah, right after posting I thought about that.

If all were being syncronized a few seconds apart do you think it would work? Each would be as up to date as the Outlook folders of the last to sync.Outlook can handle multiple simultaneous connections. It uses ODBC. I am sure it can handle record locks too.

Thanks, Ed!
It just occurred to me that someone here could test that. Sync your Pocket PC with OUtlook and launch Money 2004. I think Premium and Personal & Business will sync contacts with Outlook

greenmozart

08-21-2003, 03:55 PM

I have to say, I'm glad Microsoft is finally realizing the importance of devices. It seems like we are constantly seeing them react to things Apple is doing already. It gets tiresome having to defend Microsoft's habit of always coming late to the party. And now we have to wait until 2005 for this? <grumble>

petvas

08-21-2003, 03:59 PM

Longhorn will be big. The changes are too big and I cannot even talk about it (It is Confidential info). I believe that when everybody sees it, will be very happy about it and go: WOW!!!!

Janak Parekh

08-21-2003, 04:06 PM

I've read about this, and have also talked about this with Mike Wehrs back at CeBIT. I don't believe the integrated-Windows syncing technologies will use SyncML -- at least yet. I think it's the next-gen ActiveSync solution. Let's hope it's more reliable... :)

--janak

Paragon

08-21-2003, 04:06 PM

It just occurred to me that someone here could test that. Sync your Pocket PC with OUtlook and launch Money 2004. I think Premium and Personal & Business will sync contacts with Outlook

I just tried it with Quickbooks......It seemed to work. I have to admit it's a bit of a task to get both operations to hit on Outlook at the same time, but I seem to have done it. 8)

Dave

Foo Fighter

08-21-2003, 04:09 PM

I believe that when everybody sees it, will be very happy about it and go: WOW!!!!

Except for Linux and Mac users who will be screeming that M1cr0$oft is an evil monopolist bent on dominating mankind. Mac users will be especially enraged when they see the new composition engine that adds animation effects to window movement, which is quite similar to the Quartz in OSX. "Oh my God!!! They ripped off OSX!!!" Microsoft is sooooo lame!". :roll: Can't wait for the fun to begin. I have a bag of popcorn and a six pack of Pabst ready go for Longhorn's launch day. I'm going to sit back in my chair and watch the fur fly. :twisted:

szamot

08-21-2003, 04:22 PM

Foo Fighter

08-21-2003, 04:41 PM

here (http://www.stoneraft.com/junk/p1.jpg), here (http://www.stoneraft.com/junk/p2.jpg) and and here (http://www.stoneraft.com/junk/p3.jpg) and grab better images. Humm what's a man to do?

Those are earlier builds, szamot.

TQBrady

08-21-2003, 04:55 PM

Anyone heard of iSync?

petvas

08-21-2003, 05:40 PM

this makes me want to reinstall Longhorn and have a closer look.
here (http://www.stoneraft.com/junk/p1.jpg), here (http://www.stoneraft.com/junk/p2.jpg) and and here (http://www.stoneraft.com/junk/p3.jpg) and grab better images. Humm what's a man to do?

We don't even have a beta 1 yet!!! Please be patient...

I expect to see the first beta by the end of this year. The latest build that exists is still very primitive. Nothing works ok and not all new technologies have been implemented...

sponge

08-21-2003, 06:28 PM

pschultz

08-21-2003, 06:32 PM

Any idea when Longhorn is supposed to be released?

petvas

08-21-2003, 06:43 PM

Any idea when Longhorn is supposed to be released?

It will be released by Q4 2004/Q1 2005. Of course this is only an estimate since no release schedule exists... 8)

petvas

08-21-2003, 06:46 PM

Great, now when Activesync messes up, the whole OS goes down? :P

In all seriousness, I'm very worried about Longhorn. What about gaming performance? Can all of those widgets and other shiny buttons be turned off, so you just have a normal Windows desktop? How about 3rd party apps? I'm going to be sticking with Winamp 2 until the end of time, so does that mean my OS will now be severely hampered because I'm not doing things their way?

Longhorn will be able to run all of your favorite applications with the maximum performance. Unfortunately I cannot say much at this time...

Foo Fighter

08-21-2003, 06:47 PM

What about gaming performance? Can all of those widgets and other shiny buttons be turned off, so you just have a normal Windows desktop?

Gaming performance shouldn't be hindered in any way because GUI resources aren't being used when games are running. Just like XP. And don't be fooled by those "shiny buttons", they don't consume that much memory.

And, as a rule, Microsoft always allows the UI to be customized. So I would bet there will be an option to shut off the eye candy and go back to a "classic" Windows environment.

I'm going to be sticking with Winamp 2 until the end of time, so does that mean my OS will now be severely hampered because I'm not doing things their way?

Dear God! Why would you even think that? Microsoft has made great strides to make Windows more DOJ compliant. If third party apps such as WinAmp are blocked by Longhorn, Microsoft will heading right back to court.

No offence, but I think you are being just a bit paranoid.

mjhamson

08-21-2003, 07:27 PM

Great, now when Activesync messes up, the whole OS goes down? :P

In all seriousness, I'm very worried about Longhorn. What about gaming performance? Can all of those widgets and other shiny buttons be turned off, so you just have a normal Windows desktop? How about 3rd party apps? I'm going to be sticking with Winamp 2 until the end of time, so does that mean my OS will now be severely hampered because I'm not doing things their way?

First and foremost, take a look at the changes that are being brought about in Video Cards as a result of Microsofts long efforts. The GPU in the video cards are not for the benefit of Video card sales and marketing. ;-)

Jonathon Watkins

08-21-2003, 08:17 PM

As Foo said, as long as I can customise the look, I'm not too worried.

Bring on the eye candy! 8)

Ed Hansberry

08-21-2003, 10:22 PM

Longhorn is projected for late 2005, not early 2005. That means 2006. http://www.wininformant.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=39908

Tungsten

08-22-2003, 02:25 AM

Finally, activestink has caught up with hotsync.

petvas

08-22-2003, 02:33 AM

Longhorn is projected for late 2005, not early 2005. That means 2006. http://www.wininformant.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=39908

This is just a projection. I cannot tell you my sources but I have reason to believe that Longhorn will make it for Q1 2005. At the latest it could go until Q2 2005...
Microsoft hasn't specified a release schedule yet. When it does I will be among the first to know (after the product team of course)... :wink:

Jonathan1

08-22-2003, 02:56 AM

Am I the only one thinking integration is a way bad thing? MS has already stated that Internet exploder will only be revamped on a OS by OS basis. If integration is the way MS wants to position ActiveSync they could easily do the same. Woo hoo I have to spend 100-200 to get a new version of ActiveSync.

Nope I don't like this at all :?

Foo Fighter

08-22-2003, 02:57 AM

Finally, activestink has caught up with hotsync.

Huh? Since when is HotSync integrated into Windows?

Foo Fighter

08-22-2003, 03:03 AM

MS has already stated that Internet exploder will only be revamped on a OS by OS basis.

Dump IE and go with Firebird. I love it!

If integration is the way MS wants to position ActiveSync they could easily do the same.

Why in God's name would MS only update ActiveSync in the same manor? I can see them revamping ActiveSync as a component that gets updated via Windows Update, but not as something that must be purchased by upgrading your copy of Windows. That makes no sense at all. As I said, I think you folks are overreacting.

Jonathan1

08-22-2003, 05:36 AM

[quote]Dump IE and go with Firebird. I love it!

Been there have that. I've tried various browsers over the years. This is the first one that I've found to be an acceptable alternative to IE. Fast, stable, and renders correctly 95% of the sites I go to.

Why in God's name would MS only update ActiveSync in the same manor? I can see them revamping ActiveSync as a component that gets updated via Windows Update, but not as something that must be purchased by upgrading your copy of Windows. That makes no sense at all. As I said, I think you folks are overreacting.

Why would then do that? Simple. To sell new versions of Windows. Hence the reason why IE and I "THINK" Media Player will only get new revs with each OS upgrade. Its all integrated. Its part of the "OS"

Will T Smith

08-22-2003, 07:15 AM

Let's not forget that Windows2000 and WinXP pro allows for file syncronization from online file sources. For example, you could sync your data from your desktop to your laptop.

I think that the concepts of file syncronization will become radically different in the next Windows. Microsoft has already stated that its goal is a "transient" user profile which seamlessly migrates and presents data in multiple places in the same way. This perspective dwarfs the scope of both Activesync and Offline files. It will require some very sophisticated methods for sorting through changes and managing different views of data.

I am quite interested to see how they'll pull it all off. My first guess is that XML will play a giant roll. The nature of what constitutes a "change" will need to be examined. I would also expect that some form of change/revision management should be built in so that one can back out of mis-syncs and merge disparate document copies.

I'm pretty interested in seeing what they ultimately come up with.

Paragon

08-22-2003, 01:22 PM

It sounds like Longhorn will be a very large step towards MS's goal of having the desktop as a central computer managing many different mobile devices. Very cool! 8)

Dave

Prevost

08-24-2003, 08:00 AM

Finally, activestink has caught up with hotsync.Hey Tungsten, your nick sounds aloud as a Palm user he he :lol: !

Prevost

08-24-2003, 08:15 AM

I have not any knowledge, not even own a PocketPC still, but, I am affraid MS would, instead of fullfilling all your dear expectations (I share them, believe me):
1. Do whatever with Activesync making it work different than today but for no better results (don't tell me Palm zealot, you yourselves criticize it here a lot), just for the sake of integration, or
2. Do whatever with Activesync making it work different than today but for no better results with the promise it is coming better along with the next OS version and you will enjoy it...as far as you upgrade OS :evil: grrrr!

I mean, they haven't still sorted Activesync's performance completely as far as I have learned here around. How are they gonna get it working properly no matter of "integration" within OS? Wouldn't it be better to change the basis of the program after having it working flawlessly?

Hopefully all those doubts will be wiped away when it all comes up.

Tungsten

08-27-2003, 07:34 PM

Finally, activestink has caught up with hotsync.

Huh? Since when is HotSync integrated into Windows?
As if that were a good thing? :|
If by "integration" you meant copying files to/from the PDA, then use SyncWizard (http://envicon.com/SyncWizard/) for Palm or DataImport for Clie.

Jason Dunn

08-27-2003, 08:02 PM

2. Do whatever with Activesync making it work different than today but for no better results with the promise it is coming better along with the next OS version and you will enjoy it...as far as you upgrade OS :evil: grrrr!

This is silly speculation. Windows XP comes with Windows Movie Maker 1.0, and you can download 2.0 for free from Microsoft. ActiveSync is also a free product. Why would Microsoft make you buy a new OS for a free application? They wouldn't.

I mean, they haven't still sorted Activesync's performance completely as far as I have learned here around. How are they gonna get it working properly no matter of "integration" within OS?

By scrapping it and starting over with something completely new and based on modern technology perhaps? Remember that ActiveSync still has legacy code from HPC Explorer 1.0 in 1996.

Foo Fighter

08-27-2003, 08:03 PM

As if that were a good thing? :|

Sure beats the archaic method of transporting data and files to a PalmOS device. HotSync is a dinosaur. Yes, it's a lot more reliable than ActiveSynce, but this because it doesn't do much of anything. Integrating Pocket PC connectivity into Windows will simplify data transferal and perhaps change the way PDAs connect with Windows. I see that as a "good thing" considering how nothing has changed the way we connect to our PDAs in almost 10 years. We need some progress in this space.

If by "integration" you meant copying files to/from the PDA, then use SyncWizard (http://envicon.com/SyncWizard/) for Palm.

Yeah, $23 to add features to HotSync that should have been included in the first place. :roll: