Occasional Observations

Grrr. Vista's started to annoy me. Less than 90 days and I've already been through a reinstall, but, frustratingly, it still hasn't totally solved the problem.

According to Vista, I can't install Live Messenger because the executable is unsigned - it looks signed to me. Even by changing all the settings in Internet Options to the minimum (a strange place to put software install security options) hasn't allowed installation.

It started on Monday when I was prompted to install a Skype hotfix. This resulted in a read-error, Skype simply disappeared and I was simply unable to reinstall. Clearing temp files, defragging, chkdsk etc didn't make any difference.

So far, I've managed to get Skype back, and this time around the installation seems to be a bit less buggy - for example the switch-screen monitor works (very nicely). But no chance of installing Live Messenger, nor Trillian. I guess if you ain't on Skype, you can't IM me.

At 3GSM it became clear that it's all about the content, which is exactly why RIM ascended into the super-league so quickly. Its BlackBerry service is all about delivering content to the handheld, and now comes the infotainment wave.

That's why 3GSM was all about mobile internet, in advertising space on the small screen, user-generated content, and on sharing this content.

As flat-rates for mobile data access become more of a norm, things can only get better - I'll surf more on my mobile, without having to panic about rogue pages with non-optimized Java apps, for example the 1.5MB WAP download from map24.com, just to show me a map of Barcelona center. At the roaming mobile data rate of ?0.39 per 50kb, this cost me ?12. I won't do that again - have already downloaded Google Maps for S60 Series 3.

There's one exception to all this: streaming video to the mobile still doesn't look like it's anywhere near ready for prime time. Too darned complicated at the back end, and most small-screen video is disappointing. With streaming video, it's a case of don't watch this space.

After a day at 3GSM, here's what I unloaded from various suit pockets this evening ...

* Delegate badge
* Assorted business cards
* Cryptic note "look at www.truphone.com"
* Nestle Crunch bar pocketed from the press center
* Telsis playing cards with 4 extra playing cards on "SMS Facts" predicting growth of SMS services and urging me to "Send Picture of Johnny Depp to +44 7797 835 835"
* Celltick magnetic memo holder
* Cellon leather-tied notepad
* USB drive

And that's after being very selective about what I picked up...

I'm getting SMS spam for the first time in years ... while roaming. Not sure if this is also costing me money, it is certainly costing the sender, who wants me to think I've accidentally got the private link to a dodgy website that he's sending to his friend Dieter. Yeah right.

So back in Barcelona for 3GSM and this time around it's already better than last: there's natural light in my apartment!

I'm in the Barceloneta district in an apt in a terraced building that oozes history - antique floor and wall tiles, and most of all, it's pretty quiet!

Time to head over to the show and get registered.

Oh, and it's sunny and mild, but not warm!

Since pictures say 1000 words, click on the image.

Just left MoMoMü, or MobileMondayMünchen - with more than 200 people, quite a launch. It's given me new ideas, and underlined that these are exciting times in the mobile comms world - a week ahead of 3GSM.