A big thank-you to Kevin Tofel over on jkOnTheRun for posting this fix for teh Windows Live OneCare 1.5 Beta.
You see, when you run the latest beta of Windows Live OneCare 1.5 with the latest beta of Windows Mobile Device Center, the firewall will block the synchronization ports and application. The following firewall settings can be manually entered into the Windows Live OneCare firewall to allow Windows Mobile devices to once again synchronize with Windows Vista.
As the self-proclaimed “King of Google Search”, I quickly got the lowdown on the reason why with this thread over at the OneCare forums of all places. Seems as though the Windows Live OneCare 1.5 Beta is overly protective and I had to configure the Firewall with some additional port openings. I also added two of the WMDC executables and one .dll to the OneCare Allowed programs. If you’re a risk taker too, here’s what you need to do:
Configure these ports in the OneCare Firewall settings:
port990: open inbound TCP
port999: open inbound TCP
port5678: open inbound TCP
port5679: open outbound UDP
port5721: open inbound TCP
port26675: open inbound TCP
Allow these files in OneCare:
C:WindowsWindowsMobilewmdc.exe
C:WindowsWindowsMobilewmdHost.exe
C:WindowsWindowsMobilewmdsyncman.dll
These settings worked for my installation and got my MDA syncing again. Thank you Kevin!
So in my recent modern life post, I talked about having all data and services on the Internet. I insist that this is available today and is the trend for the future, and is how I attempt to do everything I possibly can.
Now here is the inevitable “but” that all debate mongers will latch onto. Currently there are software packages that simply can’t be duplicated online at this time. Here is my list of these packages, and how I currently rate them. Ranked in no particular order.
RC2 is over! As stated before, Vista RC1 is the “long-term” supported public beta release, and is still available for download from Microsoft if you want it.
I’m an “old” microcomputer geek. I’ve been there from the original Commodore, Apple, Atari, IBM, TRS-80, Timex, and other early computers. The potential of these fantastic machines to simplify life, entertain, learn, and create news was never lost on me.
Of course there were computers (and networks) long before the microcomputer revolution. Huge mainframes and later minicomputers. Huge rooms of hard drives, batteries, controller units, and much more. This was “Information Technology” for 30 years by the time I started playing with computers.
Now approaching 30 years after I discovered the wonderful world of computers, technology is radically different (as if ICs & the microprocessor weren’t enough). With more computing power in our phones than existed in the world in 1950, our capabilities are different as well.
Figure this, most of the systems being designed and built today are by the original MTV generation. The first generation to grow up with computers, microwaves, Sony Walkman players, video games, cordless phones, MTV, CD Players, VCRs, and much, much more.
Now, I’ve been rambling here, but the point I’m getting to is that how we use technology today is about to change – again. Some of it is obvious, some not. Take the Internet. As it has grown and technology advances, the ability to deliver new tools and services continues to amaze. With each new iteration of computer, software, and network advances, the opportunities for the consumer leaps forward. Today the computer is but a mere cog in our consumption of information – because that is what technology is really all about: Information.
Its information that we trade with each other, through email and IM, post on our blogs, record in our podcasts, share on our social networking services, download to our media players, watch on our monitors, sync to our phones/PDAs. All that and more.
What this ultimately means is that the computer has become irrelevant, and all we really need, or will need going into the future is access to our information. If you have a device that can access the network (the Internet), you can get to your information. It no longer matters where you store your information.
Even as I write this post, it is entirely online. Meaning that I am not using any local storage, posting directly to my blog, using online software to write, proof, and post.
As an old IT geek, I used to have an impressive home network with email, file, systems management, AV, firewall, web, and more – all in my house, on my network, where I had to manage it all. Today, all the services I felt I needed to provide myself & family are all hosted online for little or no cost.
From a custom GMail domain account for email, to hosting services, to online data storage services, to online media subscriptions. Its all online, accessible from anywhere in the world. What have I left at home? A few laptops that my family can take with us when we need to.
As phones grow more capable, all you’ll need with you is your phone. Maybe a rolling/folding wireless keyboard, for bulk typing needs, but that’s it.
I love technology, mostly because its all starting to resemble those dreams of the future I had so long ago.
One of the blogs I read often is Kathy Sierra’s Creating Passionate Users blog. There are so many great posts there that address many daily topics in the workplace, and once in awhile I find one that I need to link to.
So, this post from Oct. 6th, really hit home. Many of us have worked in an environment that does exactly what she describes in this post. Its amazing in a way that managers don’t see what they create with a number (not all) of their management practices.
Anyway, great post that I highly recommend reading.
First Lady Melania Trump: "Most know my husband as the strong Commander-in-Chief, but his empathy transcends the role and shapes a caring leader who constantly remembers each and every American soldier is someone's child."
