Image: Microsoft Hardware website

I just saw an ad for this new mouse being sold by Microsoft called the Arc Mouse. It seems all the standard features of the mouse you’d expect, but the rear-end of it folds for storage and portability.

The one feature it has that I think is key in a mobile mouse though is the ability to have a tiny USB receiver that you can just leave plugged into your laptop instead of having to remove it.

If you do remove it, having a mouse that allows you to store the small received inside the mouse itself is a must in my opinion as well.

Perhaps this profile view really illustrates the size difference and it makes it very obvious how the mouse got it’s name.

I’ve been a huge fan of the Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse since the day I first saw it. Then when I actually purchased one I became even a bigger fan.

I’d be interested in giving this mouse a try though. It looks cool but the key to a good mouse above all else is really how it feels in your hand and responds to your daily use of it with your computer.

Post from: EveryJoe

The New Microsoft Arc Mouse

Microsoft is promoting their MSN Mobile product and offering a chance to win a new Zune. Since my iPod mini is out-of-commission until I can get the opportunity to visit the Apple “Genius” bar, I’d love to win a Zune.

The website gives the ability to enter your mobile phone # and receive a text message with a link to the file you need to download. I chose to go this route thinking it would be easier. I received the text message within a few seconds but when I clicked on the link my Pocket PC phone would go to the site for security issues. I’d think it’s a bad thing when your Microsoft phone won’t even let you access a Microsoft site right?

Plan B, I’ll just type in mobile.msn.com into my phone browser and visit that way.

First, why can’t Microsoft join the rest of the mobile world and just preface their website with an “m.” to denote the mobile version? I know it’s only 5 extra characters, but that’s not the point right?

I visit the site and it doesn’t appear that there’s anything for me to download. Oh, nothing really appears different at all. I’ve actually already go the site saved in my Favorites anyway.

Am I missing something?

Post from: EveryJoe

MSN Mobile Zune Promo

For my “day” job, I work with a number of custom database applications that we develop. One of them being our complete task, CRM, project management solution. Normally, my business partner and I are connected to each other through the same network or a switch so I can almost always see his machine and run off a single copy of the SQL database back end connection.

Today though is a different story, I ended up having to work remotely at a coffee shop so needed to run off my local back-up copy of the database. The only problem is that when I used my standard link to the application running on my machine, it keeps telling me it can’t find the database. NO DUH!

No instead of forcing me to step through a long series of one-option dialog boxes, how about you let me have another box that immediately lets me jump into my connection settings and tell it to look at my local SQL server and not my partner’s?

If someone’s got a solution for this, PLEASE let me know, because it doesn’t happen frequently enough to be a huge issue, but becomes annoying quickly everytime I have to deal with it.

Post from: EveryJoe

Pre-Emptive SQL Connections

More important, Crossbow brings improved stability vs. its predecessor, Windows Mobile 5.0. After that release came out, Microsoft released an extension called Messaging and Security Feature Pack that provided BlackBerry-like direct push e-mail technology, but it lacked a refined user interface and seamless integration with Microsoft software, partners said.

“Crossbow is much more stable than the previous [Windows Mobile] version,” said another partner and beta tester, who asked not to be named. “It’s about stability — no problems in the first 10 minutes or the first 10 days.”

Beta testers of Crossbow-based devices said the maturity and stability of the platform and its development model and integration with the next-generation fleet of Microsoft software will drive high growth through 2007.

Source: Pocket PC Addict
Source: Microsoft Aims ‘Crossbow’ Windows Mobile OS For 4Q Release

Post from: EveryJoe

Crossbow Coming 2007