Develop Bugs

[Q] MIME types and Iso storage

Hi,
I remember from owning an IPhone having to synchronise my ewallet (a password manager) files over the air from the desktop whilst the app was running on the phone. (I'll admit it was a minor annoyance).
Having moved to android and using a combination of dropbox and keepass, I don't really think about anymore - I just open dropbox and click the file and keepass opens up.
But, what about WP7? I realise that apps are only permitted to use their own storage. If I were to build a say, a keepass app for WP7, would I be back to building some desktop client software that allow syncing over the air whilst the app was running (like IPhone/ewallet), or hooking into any number of online sync services like Dropbox, Box.net, Pogoplug, etc, just to get the file some place the app can reach it.
I'm having trouble thinking of any other option given the lack of any common storage.
Thanks

If you did develop Keepass for WP7, you'd have your first customer here!
I'm actually tempted to try and port it myself, and I've come to the same conclusion as you regarding storage. The local KDB file would need to held in private storage and synchronised to an off-device copy, be that a desktop app or something like drop box.

A keepass app is one of the things I was considering. Not so sure about it now.
I'll have a look round for an elegant solution.

Well, isn't Skydrive the same as Dropbox? As I understood WP7 uses Skydrive to store your files 'in the cloud'; so why not put your Keepass file there?

Seven_PRX said:
Well, isn't Skydrive the same as Dropbox? As I understood WP7 uses Skydrive to store your files 'in the cloud'; so why not put your Keepass file there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd not considered skydrive/mesh. I'll 'ave a look.
Thanks for the heads-up.

I'm thinking of writing a desktop synching app myself. That way any WP7 app could connect to it to import files from a PC.
I've thought about using skydrive myself, but it doesn't seem to offer a way to download the file directly.

Send to WP7 now has a desktop companion app

The desktop counterpart integrates with explorer and allows you to right click on any file ex docs and pictures and send it to your windows phone! I am not sure how secure the cloud storage is at the moment but this is some nice innovation for a free app.
Read more here: http://wpcentral.com/send-wp7-hits-back-desktop-app
You can compose texts, emails and notes on the desktop and send it to the phone as well. The application utilizes windows 7 jumplists and works almost instantaneously.
I'm impressed.
Cloud is the future. Resistance is futile.

Well, well, well...I guess if Microsoft wasn't going to step in and make SkyDrive play nice on WP7 (access through browser doesn't count if you cannot sync), then someone had to. I like where Send To WP7 is going. It is quite impressive indeed.
It's just a shame that Microsoft, who probably has more data centres than 98% of all corporations in the world, and is in the best position to promote cloud services ( like Windows Live ) is still lagging behind.

I'm the author of Send to WP7, if you have any other suggestions for ways you can send stuff to your phone, do let me know. I'm open to pretty much anything that's technically possibly without costing me an arm and a leg in infrastructure.
The main complaint in the current implementation is that it uploads to a public hosting site. Live Mesh and SkyDrive don't have suitable APIs for doing this, as I would very much like to tie everything into Windows Live. In order to be useful, the files need to be accessible via an HTTP URL, without requiring a cookie or authentication (HTTP auth may be acceptable, but it needs to be opened in the browser to have access to docs and PDFs.
Also do note that this is a preview quality build, I just figured some people may already want to start using it.

If only you could make a "Send From WP7" app...

The ability to send to other Windows Phones would be nice.

kapanak said:
If only you could make a "Send From WP7" app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No APIs to let me do this, unfortunately.
karelj said:
The ability to send to other Windows Phones would be nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not so sure this is practical, you may as well just email a link, right? if you're talking about from the browser, using the bookmarklet for alternate phones is supported in all desktop browsers.

davux, i'm not sure if it's possible as you don't have socket support, but a possible way to get skydrive access to work is to pass windows phone through fiddler and work out what it does when it syncs a onenote note to skydrive. i'm pretty sure this would be socket base meaning you'd be stuck, but if it isn't, you may just have the information required to directly upload to skydrive, with proper credentials and all.
it's just an idea, but this is what i'd try as a developer (yes i am one, but no where near experienced enough at this stage).

The Gate Keeper said:
davux, i'm not sure if it's possible as you don't have socket support, but a possible way to get skydrive access to work is to pass windows phone through fiddler and work out what it does when it syncs a onenote note to skydrive. i'm pretty sure this would be socket base meaning you'd be stuck, but if it isn't, you may just have the information required to directly upload to skydrive, with proper credentials and all.
it's just an idea, but this is what i'd try as a developer (yes i am one, but no where near experienced enough at this stage).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can actually access SkyDrive via WebDAV already, which is an HTTP protocol. I suspect OneNote sync does something similar, but I haven't checked it out. The primary issue with this approach is that it won't be all that useful. Images and text would transfer well like this, but if you wanted to send a PDF, or Office doc, there would be no way to open it. The only way to open these types of docs is through the browser. I figured a really important use-case is documents, so I decided to take another approach.
BTW - the current build of the desktop app now supports uploading to localhostr.com, serving up files via a local HTTP server, and using your Dropbox account.

davux said:
I can actually access SkyDrive via WebDAV already, which is an HTTP protocol. I suspect OneNote sync does something similar, but I haven't checked it out. The primary issue with this approach is that it won't be all that useful. Images and text would transfer well like this, but if you wanted to send a PDF, or Office doc, there would be no way to open it. The only way to open these types of docs is through the browser. I figured a really important use-case is documents, so I decided to take another approach.
BTW - the current build of the desktop app now supports uploading to localhostr.com, serving up files via a local HTTP server, and using your Dropbox account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for directly conversing with us Dave. I agree getting documents to the phone is the ideal usage of this application. Keep up the good work!

sayonical said:
The desktop counterpart integrates with explorer and allows you to right click on any file ex docs and pictures and send it to your windows phone! I am not sure how secure the cloud storage is at the moment but this is some nice innovation for a free app.
Read more here: http://wpcentral.com/send-wp7-hits-back-desktop-app
You can compose texts, emails and notes on the desktop and send it to the phone as well. The application utilizes windows 7 jumplists and works almost instantaneously.
I'm impressed.
Cloud is the future. Resistance is futile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just set it up. The push notifications are instant!!!
davux said:
I'm the author of Send to WP7, if you have any other suggestions for ways you can send stuff to your phone, do let me know. I'm open to pretty much anything that's technically possibly without costing me an arm and a leg in infrastructure.
The main complaint in the current implementation is that it uploads to a public hosting site. Live Mesh and SkyDrive don't have suitable APIs for doing this, as I would very much like to tie everything into Windows Live. In order to be useful, the files need to be accessible via an HTTP URL, without requiring a cookie or authentication (HTTP auth may be acceptable, but it needs to be opened in the browser to have access to docs and PDFs.
Also do note that this is a preview quality build, I just figured some people may already want to start using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting stuff indeed. I for one, appreciate the work you are doing.

Wait a minute, you can use the Desktop app and upload to phone using your own local network? That is significantly easier to trust than a free cloud service.

kapanak said:
Wait a minute, you can use the Desktop app and upload to phone using your own local network? That is significantly easier to trust than a free cloud service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Unfortunately I can't make it an SSL connection, I'm not willing to pay for a cert. I will see if a test-signed certificate will work, but that is not actually as secure.

davux said:
Yes. Unfortunately I can't make it an SSL connection, I'm not willing to pay for a cert. I will see if a test-signed certificate will work, but that is not actually as secure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been trying out the desktop app with the local Wi-Fi method, and this seems to me the best way to get stuff to the phone. It's very quick too.
The dropbox integration isworking, and quite well. I'm wondering is there a way in future to upload to a private dropbox share?
Even though it's only an early preview, the dekstop app is great. I like the integration with Windows 7; I have it pinned to my taskbar. Might be useful to have a "Start with Windows" option in there. I'm sure you're aware of some of the bugs like the lack of proper icons in the jumplist Tasks and the filenaming issue that causes PDFs to be unreadable from WP7. To be expected with a preview.
From a UI point of view, I think the "Set Transfer Destination" option should not be in the jumplist and should be in the main config window instead. It's not a menu item you would need ever access to again after you've set your dropbox settings.
The WP7 app itself is also coming along great. I'm wondering if you will split the file list into categories, eg Notes, Links, Images, Files etc. Or failing that, have just "New" and "All" categories? Perhaps, for things like notes, you can Archive them into an Archive category... just an idea. Oh, and when a file is sent via the desktop app at the moment, for example a photo, instead of displaying just as "File", perhaps it could display as "File - {name}"?
Great stuff, getting great use out of this app so far, and its usefulness will explode when copy and paste arrives to WP7 devices. Thanks!

A big thanks to Dave for this excellent tool, it is also nice to see a thread wherevpeoplevare pushing the boundaries of what can be done with wp7 rather than just slanting it off.

wheresmybeaver said:
The dropbox integration isworking, and quite well. I'm wondering is there a way in future to upload to a private dropbox share?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not likely, as I've been saying, the phone needs to be able to access a share via the web browser. As far as I know, Dropbox private folders won't do this. That's why I've included an option to mutate the name a bit, so someone can't just guess filenames in your public folder.
The WP7 app itself is also coming along great. I'm wondering if you will split the file list into categories, eg Notes, Links, Images, Files etc. Or failing that, have just "New" and "All" categories? Perhaps, for things like notes, you can Archive them into an Archive category... just an idea. Oh, and when a file is sent via the desktop app at the moment, for example a photo, instead of displaying just as "File", perhaps it could display as "File - {name}"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note that the phone app has absolutely no support for the desktop app at this time, I will bring support for it in an update. Views are likely, I haven't decided what to do yet. I wouldn't expect that update for a couple of weeks though.
adesonic said:
A big thanks to Dave for this excellent tool, it is also nice to see a thread wherevpeoplevare pushing the boundaries of what can be done with wp7 rather than just slanting it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.

Send to WP7 Desktop
Dave, thanks for this app. It works well so far & I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of this. One problem though I'm not getting notifications & when I open the app on the phone I get a push notification error. 'Failed to open channel'. Great work mate. Keep it up. Will send a donation when I get a chance.

davux said:
I'm the author of Send to WP7, if you have any other suggestions for ways you can send stuff to your phone, do let me know. I'm open to pretty much anything that's technically possibly without costing me an arm and a leg in infrastructure.
The main complaint in the current implementation is that it uploads to a public hosting site. Live Mesh and SkyDrive don't have suitable APIs for doing this, as I would very much like to tie everything into Windows Live. In order to be useful, the files need to be accessible via an HTTP URL, without requiring a cookie or authentication (HTTP auth may be acceptable, but it needs to be opened in the browser to have access to docs and PDFs.
Also do note that this is a preview quality build, I just figured some people may already want to start using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can not download it in Germany

weepatc said:
Dave, thanks for this app. It works well so far & I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of this. One problem though I'm not getting notifications & when I open the app on the phone I get a push notification error. 'Failed to open channel'. Great work mate. Keep it up. Will send a donation when I get a chance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually have this same problem on my device. I opened the same-named notification channel on a dev build, then I uninstalled that build while it had the channel open - now neither the marketplace build nor new dev builds will open the channel.
I don't know how you got into this situation, but my point is that I don't really know what I can do to help--I'm under the assumption that all I can do to fix my device is to do a master reset (so I'm waiting for the NoDo update). I'm hoping that this bug is fixed in the next update, but I don't know if it's even officially reported.
ceesheim said:
I can not download it in Germany
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've selected all possible countries, which I think includes Germany. I don't think there is anything else I can do for you--maybe I could post a link to the XAP and you could sideload it? My only issue with this is that I'll then have to maintain a secondary distribution channel, and will need to build some kind of updater.

you should be able to post a zune link and it should allow him to access it that way. no need to sideload.

The Zune:// link has always been on my product page.
http://www.daveamenta.com/products/chrome-to-wp7/

How to copy any file to your WP7 device

My problem was to copy a pdf-file to my phone and after some research, I figured out that the only way to do this, is to email me this file. I think this is pretty awkward and I found an easier way to do this.
If you have a dropbox-account just move the file to your dropbox-folder on your pc, then install a dropbox-client on your phone. now you can access every file that's in the dropbox-folder from your phone... problem solved
If you're new to dropbox, I would appreciate it if you use my refferal-link so that both of us get 250MB extra free space.
Here's my referral-link: http://db.tt/OV3ERGB

Why not just use your free Skydrive? That's what I do, then navigate to your Skydrive on your phone (pin the link to your start screen for ease) and click the file's icon and it will download to your phone.
No need to use dropbox at all.

Jim Coleman said:
Why not just use your free Skydrive? That's what I do, then navigate to your Skydrive on your phone (pin the link to your start screen for ease) and click the file's icon and it will download to your phone.
No need to use dropbox at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use dropbox too.
I think it easier because it has a Dropbox client for PC and WP7 (with app "Boxfiles for dropbox"), no need to create internet shortcut on my phone.

Why not Skydrive? Because it doesn't work half as well with either Windows or Windows Phone.
Unlike Dropbox, I can't just map my cloud storage to a folder easily on my PC.
And on my phone it doesn't let me download some files (funnily, Microsoft Office files). It shows presentations as web docs and there's no download link in default mobile view. I need to switch to desktop view which is unbearably slow.
This is plain ridiculous.

vangrieg said:
Why not Skydrive? Because it doesn't work half as well with either Windows or Windows Phone.
Unlike Dropbox, I can't just map my cloud storage to a folder easily on my PC.
And on my phone it doesn't let me download some files (funnily, Microsoft Office files). It shows presentations as web docs and there's no download link in default mobile view. I need to switch to desktop view which is unbearably slow.
This is plain ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how does dropbox work with mp3s can u copy those over to device memory and add them to ur llibrary without syncing via zune?

vangrieg said:
Why not Skydrive? Because it doesn't work half as well with either Windows or Windows Phone.
Unlike Dropbox, I can't just map my cloud storage to a folder easily on my PC.
And on my phone it doesn't let me download some files (funnily, Microsoft Office files). It shows presentations as web docs and there's no download link in default mobile view. I need to switch to desktop view which is unbearably slow.
This is plain ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is being fixed in the mango update.
I don't transfer many files to my phone so its not an issue for me but I can see the frustration for some.

vangrieg said:
Unlike Dropbox, I can't just map my cloud storage to a folder easily on my PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://mynetx.net/#!/2352/how-to-connect-your-skydrive-in-windows-explorer
or
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/7385/windows-7-how-to-map-skydrive-folders-as-network-drives/
or even
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/windows-7-map-drive-skydrive-using-url-address-network/
There ya go, have fun.

I have videos on my dropbox, and BEFORE NoDo they worked, now they don't work.. tells me invalid format or times out (These would be WMV and 3GP) is it just me?

Where is the skydrive app or link on the phone.. cant find on my DVP.

At least things will get better with time. More premium apps are showing up in marketplace.

There's already a sticky thread for OS comparisons. Take this bickering, flaming, trolling there please
Sent from my Focus using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

Back on topic please!

[Q] win7 excel

I have been trying to find out if windows 7 mobile is able to support my excel spreadsheet. Some retailers say yes no problem, others say my formulas are to complex, no one has been able to try it for me. How can I find out if my spreadsheet can be read, edited and it calculates properly before I buy?
Does the handset make any differance or is the win 7 the same on all? I haven't purchased a handset as of yet as I am still trying to find out what apps I can use on them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I very much want excel and word support, pdf reader is a must - creator would be a real plus. Gps would be real nice too.
Thus far I am leaning towards the htc surround, it seems to be one of the better options in my limited market.

before you buy the device,I have to let you know that,unless you are using microsoft sharepoint,if not the office application is kind of useless.
me as a student,I can't even transfer my lecture note to the device and revise it anywhere.
so,think twice before you buy a device

onenote is the only thing that you can sync to skydrive. so you can edit them on the web as well.
excel and word on the hand has to be emailed back and forth if you don't have sharepoint.
MS did demo a skydrive client at CES, which will be part of mango update, released in fall 2011, so that will be the resolve, but till then email is the only way to do it.

Thanks for the tips, I can see more research is in order.

You don't have to email word and excel documents in order to make them usable on a WP7 device. You can also choose to sync these items with either dropbox - which has several clients for WP7 - or software solutions like homepipe. Both work fine, either way.
But it's truely just a workaround until MS will provide full skydrive support. Which should have been part of WP7 from day one in the first place.

Transfering isn't a big deal, I would like to put the spreadsheet template on the handset, add in the data as needed and have excel do the calculations. Perhaps a quarterly backup to the computer would be fine. Will the handset excel sync with the desktop app, filling in the fields or would that have to be done manually?

Attila7 said:
Transfering isn't a big deal, I would like to put the spreadsheet template on the handset, add in the data as needed and have excel do the calculations. Perhaps a quarterly backup to the computer would be fine. Will the handset excel sync with the desktop app, filling in the fields or would that have to be done manually?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never really tried that, because I hardly use excel. But the way I described works with word, so why should it be any different with excel? Just save the file created on your desktop PC to your dropbox folder (or any other folder you can sync with your handset), then download and open it from the client app on your device.

Attila7 said:
Transfering isn't a big deal, I would like to put the spreadsheet template on the handset, add in the data as needed and have excel do the calculations. Perhaps a quarterly backup to the computer would be fine. Will the handset excel sync with the desktop app, filling in the fields or would that have to be done manually?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I just looked into my zune & LG Quantum transfer options, and I could not find any options regarding transferring any type of files that are not music, video or podcasts. EDIT: NM, miss understood your question. I don't believe the spreadsheets will sync. But using dropbox, this wouldn't be an issue, as you would always be opening the dropbox copy of the spreadsheet.
RE: seeing whether or not your excel spreadsheet will run properly, I am not sure how private/personal your spreadsheet is, but you could email it to a user here to test it and report back to you if it works.

Would the dropbox copy be the same as the computer copy? Would someone be willing to try the template for me to see if it will run and calculate properly? That is a great idea! The template is about 1.5 mb. If anyone is willing to try this for me please PM me, thanks.

i use Excel a lot on my windows phone by using a budget spreadsheet I whipped up on my computer. I know there are multitudes of budgets apps but why do that when you can auto calculate averages, sums, and present them graphically with a simple spread sheet?
Now at the moment, the only way to get Office docs (Word or Excel) on the phone is via emailing your self or as others suggested dropbox or file server. The downside is changes made on the phone isn't synced back to the source. You have to email the changes to yourself.
Microsoft has demoed Skydrive integration coming in the Fall update. Changes made then will be automatically synced like One note is now.
As for formulas, my formulas and graphs work and show up on the phone just fine! However I am not sure if more complicated ones work as I was unable to edit an excel timesheet from my job on my phone (says unable to open this file created from earlier office version). I am willing to test this template for you.
Feel free to PM it to me.
Also one way to get office documents on the phone iis utilizing skydrive instead of dropbox
1, I mapped my skydrive "My Documents" folder as a network drive on my Windows 7 PC
2. I save all my office documents there. I can edit them, delete them, rename them just as any other folder.
3. One the phone you can access skydrive via the browser and download your files without needing drop box or 3rd party solutions. The downside is being unable to upload them back!
4. Do maintenance, email your changed document and replace it on the desktop yourself.
Hope this helps.

sayonical said:
1, I mapped my skydrive "My Documents" folder as a network drive on my Windows 7 PC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did you do this? i would like to know as i've always wanted to do this as well. Windows Live Mesh doesn't seem to do it the way i want.

The Gate Keeper said:
how did you do this? i would like to know as i've always wanted to do this as well. Windows Live Mesh doesn't seem to do it the way i want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have Office2010 follow this easy guide
http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/04/25/use-office-2010-to-map-a-local-drive-letter-to-your-free-25gb-live-skydrive/

awesome! i'll give this a try when i get home.

SkyDrive WP7 Tip

Hey
I was trying to find a way to store some photos on skydrive that i didant want showing up on my phone (photos of my gf ) I could not seem to find an option within WP7 or on the skydrive site regarding permissions but i came up with a little trick. If you create a new folder on skydrive and place a picture in it, it automatically becomes a picture folder and is synced with WP7 with is rather annoying.
To get around this place the picture in the folder and then create a random word document in the same folder, click on the folder then click on information on the right hand drive of skydrive and change it to documents. Your folder will no longer appear in the pictures hub and you can still access from Office skydrive hub which will simply link you to the skydrive webpage. Hope some of you find this helpful.

Where is the link to the SkyDrive folder ?

Skydrive is not convenient at all.
When will there be a Skydrive app on WP7 ??? I wonder.
For the moment I'm staying with Dropbox + Kickbox
Anyway, thanks for this tip

SkyDrive is handled on WP7 via the Office Hub. Open that, and go to "Locations" and SkyDrive should be there (if you set up a Live account, of course). If not, you may need to add the URL to it. But it'll work. You can also pin it to your Start if you wish, for quicker access.
Brad.

leftspeaker2000 said:
Hey
I was trying to find a way to store some photos on skydrive that i didant want showing up on my phone (photos of my gf ) I could not seem to find an option within WP7 or on the skydrive site regarding permissions but i came up with a little trick. If you create a new folder on skydrive and place a picture in it, it automatically becomes a picture folder and is synced with WP7 with is rather annoying.
To get around this place the picture in the folder and then create a random word document in the same folder, click on the folder then click on information on the right hand drive of skydrive and change it to documents. Your folder will no longer appear in the pictures hub and you can still access from Office skydrive hub which will simply link you to the skydrive webpage. Hope some of you find this helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aren't all pictures and documents you upload from your phone publicly viewable by default? Or does adding a document somehow make it available to you only?
Seems there's no way to change permissions via the WP7 Office hub.

I think wp7 ask u about your privacy choice when uploading to skydrive, can choose between anyone and only you...can also give permission to one contact especially...that's realy confortable.
Sent from my HD7 T9292 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App