• Shopping list
• Honey do’s
• New project ideas
• Many other things

Apple had allowed for Notes to be synced to Google over the air but killed it in one of the latest updates to the OS.  This was a great feature.  You can still sync up your notes to Google but now you must do it through iTunes.  Why must everything for the iPhone go through iTunes?

I wrote a guest post at www.lehsys.com that might help explain.  It will be posted on 10/22/2010.

Let’s get back on topic.  How can I have my notes with me no matter where I am?

With Google you can download their application and use the Task or Doc service.  Task and Doc are not applications on your phone.  The Goggle application opens up your web browser to their site.  Google does a great job with the web pages.

No, on to Microsoft, I have tried (without have to buy an app) to be able to create or edit a Word or OneNote document online, but can’t.  You can view Word, but not OneNote.  This is a bad thing for me, as I want to use this service.

So, given what is out in the world, I use GoogleTask for my task list now.  To find it when you are on a computer (I know your phone is a computer, but I mean one that is not an iPhone), go to Gmail and click on Tasks under the Contacts link in the upper left hand side.

I hope Microsoft catches up quick.

As for the Notes application on my iPhone, I no longer use it.

It is very simple to setup.

1. Go to Settings – Mail, Contact, Calendars
2. Click on Add Account…
3. Choose Microsoft Exchange
4. Fill in the fields shown (Leave domain blank and your login should be your email address)
5. Click next and it will ask for server. Use m.hotmail.com
6. Choose if you want your email, contacts or calendar synced.

Update for Android users:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Hit the menu button > Add account
3. Enter your hotmail e-mail address and password.
4. Press Manual setup (don’t press Next!)
5. For account, select Exchange.
6. On the Server settings page, clear out the Domain\Username field and enter your hotmail address.
7. Change the Server to m.hotmail.com (without the quotes).
8. Keep the checkboxes the way they are (Use secure connection enabled, but don’t accept all SSL certificates)
9. Press Next.
10. Once the server settings are confirmed, you’ll be asked for how far back you’d like to sync your e-mail, contacts and calendars.

Rollup 13:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR13 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{414017EA-201F-401D-BD4D-FDB8C2FD5AC8}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 13 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 13 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>199444&ampclcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 12:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR12 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{99DA550E-457E-4339-A520-414AC14AE82C}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 12 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 12 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>194246&amp;clcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 11:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR11 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{77F3EBA0-20E8-403E-B43B-E5AC633E139E}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 11 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 11 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>192046&amp;clcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 10:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR10 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{C853A15A-5546-4F07-BF41-FC1C64570AB3}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 10 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 10 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>184388&amp;clcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 9:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR9 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{45859F4D-AC35-4FB3-A474-40492079C74A}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 9 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 9 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>181054&amp;clcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 8:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR8 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{7D1C2874-9093-4563-83C6-C2F82C8D82B8}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 8 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 8 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>179669&amp;clcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 7:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR7 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{657DF4CA-4167-48C2-937E-1B4940C0F3C9}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 7 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 7 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>167830&amp;clcid=0×409</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

Rollup 6:

<ClientPatches>
    <Create>
    !— *** UR6 PATCH –>           
        <ClientPatchInfo>    
            <PatchId>{7E83D1E5-7B7A-45D1-8930-4FEFB4123B57}</PatchId>       
            <Title>Update Rollup 6 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Title> 
            <Description>Update Rollup 6 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0</Description>   
            <!— *** This will make it Mandatory –>              
            <IsMandatory>true</IsMandatory>              
            <IsEnabled>true</IsEnabled>              
            <ClientType>OutlookLaptop, OutlookDesktop</ClientType>
            <!— *** The LinkId is different for every Language.  Please see the KB Article at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=968176 for correct Link ID to use –> 
            <!– & in xml documents must be escaped using &amp; –> 
            <LinkId>162439&amp;clcid=0×40</LinkId>
        </ClientPatchInfo> 
   </Create> 
</ClientPatches>

I will continue to update this when a new rollup is released.

I found out that the certificate for the Exchange server was renewed on the day my problems started.  I was able to get to the web mail from the CRM server but the E-mail router still would not connect.

I tried numerous things, but the item that worked was as followed:

1. Open the Microsoft CRM E-Mail Router Configuration Manager.
2. Under the Configuration Profiles tab, choose the outgoing profile and click the Modify button
3. On the General Tab, uncheck the Use SSL box and click Save.
4. Click the Publish button.
5. Restart the Microsoft CRM Email Router service

After these steps, email were flowing from CRM again.  It was a happy day for email junkies.

From Office 97 to 2003 Microsoft used the .doc file extension.  These files were binary files.  When Office 2007 was introduced, Microsoft change the file extension to .docx.  These files are stored in an open XML format.  One part of the change is a tremendous reduction in file size.  In my organization, we are just now getting people to use the new formats even though Office defaults to the .docx extension.

Microsoft does have some tools to help convert the old files to the new extension.  The tool can be found at MS Technet.  One example given by a Microsoft employee is that an organization went from 100 file servers to 40 after they changed the file types from the old Office format to the 2007/2010 format.  I have seen it first hand reduce file sizes as much as 80%.

Tuesday, while listing to Microsoft Technical Evangelist John Westin, I learned that  Natal for the Xbox will cost under $100.  This is a great price point in my opinion for the experience a person will have.

Microsoft is not just letting the Natal interface stop with the Xbox.  They are taking it and and the Windows 7 multi-touch to all devices.  There is a video at OfficeLabs that shows what Microsoft thinks will be the future in the next 10 years.  Everything in the video is a working prototype with the exception of the leg room on the Boeing 787 mockup.  My favorite product from the video has to be the newspaper.

Sir Slur

There was not a whole lot I could do with what we were using to show a return on investment. 

Over the last year, we rolled out Opportunities, and Marketing Campaigns.  I now could start accumulating some data.  After about 6 months, I started to show some forecasting and trending reports based off of many different parameters.  The C-level loves it.  No longer do they have to guesstimate what the company might be bring in and from where (where did the lead come from).  Manufacturing can now have some insight to what they need in inventory.

I have also added many custom entities and custom code to meet other business practices to support the sales department.  Suffice it to say, management can run a single report and get every bit of information about an opportunity on one page.

Now that the executives are talking, I am beta testing a custom Professional Services module that I have built.  It will replace a SaaS program that is currently being used.  I am also in the planning stage of moving techsupport over from a separate ticketing system to CRM.  I thought it would be difficult to get these 2 departments to migrate over, but I was wrong.  They came to me.  They like what they have heard from other departments and demos I have shown since.

Even thought this has been a slow project, it is a successful one.  The users are excited to use it.  I am constantly getting feedback from management of new applications they want in CRM and the main reason the users are loving this is ease of information.  Everything is now in one easy place to get all the information they need to make an educated decision.

sirslur

This is where it gets weird.  I could see the new space everywhere except in explore and chkdsk.  They were both telling me that no addition space had been added.  I could not find a way to get the server to recognize the extra space, not even a reboot worked.

This is when I took to the Internet.  I could not find anything that talked about this and Windows Server 2008.  I did find something about this for Windows Server 2003. The article talked about a DISKPART function that is not readily documented.  It is extend file system.

It worked like a champ.  Within a second of running this command, the server could recognize the addition storage.

Here are the commands to run once you are in DISKPART:

 

DISKPART> select volume 1 

DISKPART> extend filesystem

DiskPart successfully extended the file system on the volume.

DISKPART> exit

Leaving DiskPart...

Here is a link to the article for Windows Server 2003:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832316

Sir Slur

I have an account with Microsoft’s Hohm.  My energy provider is not setup with them, so I would have to enter all the information in myself.  The interface is simple and clean.  I like it.  They also give you several recommendations on how to reduce your energy usage, like cleaning your air ducts.  The nice things about the recommendations is that they provide an estimated cost, annual savings, and annual CO2 benefit.  Microsoft also has a community section for Hohm, but it is more informative than connecting with other users.

Google powermeter, I do not have an account.  To use this service you have to install a Google powermeter device and install it in your home.  My energy provider, TXU, has offered it to me, but I declined.  I already have a programmable thermostat in my house.  I do not want to buy a new one just so it can give me some reports.  Although, having it give me a breakdown by hour of my energy use would be cool.  I also do not know what or who will be able to connect to that device.

For now, I will use Hohm and enter it myself.

I told you I would write about it.  I am just a little slow.