Apple iTunes 7.3.2 update - OutlookSyncClient.exe

Today, I installed the new Apple iTunes 7.3.2.6 update. I really hoped this update would fix my Microsoft Outlook contact and calendar synchronization issues. However, it did not. I received the following error message: OutlookSyncClient.exe has encountered an issue and needs to close. I called Apple Support but they were unable to resolve it, even after uninstalling and reinstalling, Apple Mobile Software, Apple Software update, iTunes and QuickTime. The rep was very helpful but it did not help me resolve this issue.

With my current 1.6GB Outlook .pst file, I was not able to get my Calendar to synchronize. It does synchronize on another profile on my laptop. When I get a chance, I will try and isolate the problem.

iPhone Firmware Update 1.0.1

I installed my Apple iPhone Firmware update 1.0.1 today. I was hoping it would fix my Outlook Calendar synchronization issue. It did not.

Apple Firmware update 1.0.1
Firmware Update Info

iPhone IT Manager Woes

In my family including my wife, daughter and some of my close relatives, we now have five iPhones. Since the iPhone launch on June 30th, I am the designated iPhone IT Manager for everything that goes wrong with everyone's personal Apple iPhone, from iPhone synchronization, iPhone battery life, iPhone wi-fi, iPhone storage, iPhone YouTube videos, iPhone photos, iPhone airplane mode, iPhone lack of games, iPhone ring tones.

First of all, I want to say I QUIT! I don't want this job! That said, I am not ready to give the job up yet since it does have some benefits. How quickly I forget the concert tickets, restaurant reservations and the necessities of my happy marriage. So here is my list of recent trouble tickets.

1. Do Not Ring -- How do I put my phone on Do No Ring.

Answer: In the upper left top corner of the iPhone, slide the button the red position.

2. iPhone Wi-Fi Reset -- My iPhone wi-fi mode doesn't work anymore, it automatically goes to Edge and will not connect to my wi-fi network.

Answer: Apple installed a feature to reset the network settings. I cruised the iPhone forums and help blogs and read about individuals inserting IP and DNS settings, resetting their iPhone and even returning them. You should reset or clear the network settings before to proceed with those hacks. Here are the steps.

Settings -->
General -->
Reset -->
* Reset Network Settings

3. Wi-Fi Settings -- How do I enter my Wi-Fi 64-bit or 128bit encryption string.
Answer: Select WEP hex or ASCII then enter a $ before your encryption string.

WEP Password -->
*WEP hex or ASCII

Password: $XXXXXXXX or XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(enter a $ before your encryption string)

4. My Outlook Calendar doesn't synchronize
As of August 2, 2007, even with the iTunes 7.3.1.3 and the iPhone 1.0.1 firmware, my Outlook Calendar does not synchronize. Here are suggestions from Apple:

Apple FAQ

My iPhone Rocks!

We are now a three Phone family. Here is my list of its top features and benefits.

1. AlwaysOn -- With the Cingular Edge and Wi-fi, you are always connected to the Internet. This is great for some airports that don't have free wi-fi service and when I am waiting for the one important email from the office or need to access a specific website for my business.

2. Phone/iPod -- I absolutely love being able to listen to music on my iPhone and if my cell phone rings, I can immediately switch over to a take the call. In fact if I am working in my home office with my headphones, my W will call on my cell phone, she knows she won't be ignored.

3. User Interface -- The scrolling user interface for contacts and music is unbelievable. I actually enjoy scrolling.

4. Stocks -- This month have enjoyed checking my stock, especially AAPL.

5. Maps -- Okay, we're in the car and arguing about directions, so now we have three versions of Google Maps/Earth directions with the satellite view to navigate to our location. I still don't do maps.

6. Email Accounts -- I have several gmail and aol email accounts, some which I need to check but rarely do. When I am at my favorite spot in the morning, reading my newspaper and drinking my coffee, I can now check my email for these accounts.

7. Photos -- The quality of the 2MB photos is great. It's much better than that old Razor phone.

8. YouTube.com -- I can now show my friends some of my home movies on youtube.

There are a few features on my iPhone that aren't fully operational yet, like the Outlook Calendar synchronization and the Contact synchronization (use Yahoo Synchronization if you have this issue), but for now I'm enjoying my iPhone!

Thank you Steve Jobs and the rest of the Apple Team!

My iPhone is now activated!!

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iPhone Processing Activation Email - 15 hours 6 minutes

Hi All,

If you iPhone is in the Completing Activation state and you haven't yet received an email with an order number, check your spam folder. This email was received 15 hours and 6 minutes from the time the activation was submitted.

===========================================================
From: do_notreply@att.com
Subject: Thank you for your recent purchase

We are currently processing your order. Your order number is XXXXXX
You will receive an additional e-mail when your order is complete that will provide further instructions to activate your iPhone.
===========================================================

BTW, after this email was received, our old phones were no longer active.

iPhone Activation Delay

AT&T is now processing your activation.


You will receive an email confirmation once your activation is complete.

iPhone Activation Issues - processing your activation

• This is the message you receive on your iTunes screen after you submit your iPhone activation.
  
• I have surfed the AT&T iPhone Customer Forums and there are iPhone customers that have waited more than 12 hours with this message, from 9pm Eastern Time last night.
  
• We submitted ours at 11:58PM ET on June 29th, and 12 hours later, our old Cingular phones still work for both incoming and outgoing calls, and we have not received our iPhone successful activation email.
  
• We ended up ejecting the iPhone from its docking station in the morning and were able to re-dock it without harming the activation as we not so patiently are waiting.
  

Resources

• iPhone Activation Screenshots from Wired site
  

iPhone Activation Problems

We just returned from the Apple Store this evening and we are trying to activate our iPhones. Here are some of the issues we've encountered so far:

Resources

Activation Specialists
1-877-777-4189
iPhone Activation
1-866-907-3484
AT&T iPhone activation support
1-877-419-4500

AT&T Website
http://www.att.com/iphone

iPhone Support Website
iPhone Support
iPhone User Guide


iPhone Customer Support Forums
AT&T iPhone Support Forum
MacRumors iPhone Forum
Apple iPhone Support Forum
Howard Forums for iPhone

Tips
1. iTunes 7.3 -- Before you activate your iPhone, make sure you upgrade your Mac OS X so that you can install the new iTunes. If your are a Windows Customer, make sure you download the latest iTunes.

2. Phone Bill -- If you plan on porting your numbers from another carrier or are a Cingular customer, make sure you have your account number from your phone bill and your password (let's hope you know what it is).

3. iPhone will not work until Activated -- In order to do anything on the iPhone, you must activate it first which requires selecting your cell phone plan. This also means that you are unable to play with it before transferring or porting your old number, which could take up to 6 hours or longer.

4. AT&T Wireless (not Cingular Customer) -- We had to call AT&T Customer Service to assist us with the activation (only a 45 minute wait). Since we were not an Cingular customer, the rep had to manually change our plan over from the old AT&T Wireless (not Cingular) before we could activate our phones.

5. iTunes Apple ID -- Make sure you have your Apple ID or your iTunes user name and password.

6. Activation Busy Try Again Message -- We received this message on our iMac and tried multiple times and finally gave up. I really hate to say this, but it worked on our three Microsoft Windows Machines without a failure.

7. Microsoft Outlook iTunes Plug-in Disabled -- After installing iTunes 7.3, the iTunes Outlook Plug-in was disabled and Outlook crashed. You can re-enable it in Outlook by clicking About, Help, Disabled Programs.

8. Activation Submitted -- When your activation is successfully submitted, you will receive an email.

9. Don't Take your iPhone Out of its Cradle -- When waiting for activation which could be as long as 6 hours or more, don't take your iPhone out of its cradle according to the activation specialist we spoke to on the phone. You need to wait to receive a second email notifying you that your activation has been completed.

iPhone Activation Video

Buying an iPhone

We went down to the Apple Store on June 29th at 8:30pm and after standing in line for only a few minutes, we walked in the store past a group of security guards.

Any of the Apple Store employees can place your order with their hand held device. You are limited to purchasing 2 iPhones per person. This is a revolutionary purchasing experience:

1. You simply give them your credit card and identification and email address.
2. You will be asked for your electronic signature.
3. The iPhone comes in a small box, about the size of a watch
box.
4. As you would expect the Apple store employee gives you a very nice Apple iPhone bag for your new iPhone.
5. You do not leave the store with a paper receipt, it will be emailed to you.

Our iPhones

Web 2.0: What is a Widget?

For Web 2.0/Social Networking 2.0, a good definition and example of a widget can be found on the NBA site.

What is a Widget?
According to Wikipedia, a Web Widget is a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation. Web Widgets can be utilized by end users to enhance a number of web-based hosts, or drop targets. Categories of drop targets include social networks, blogs and personal homepages.


A widget that displays updated NBA scores in my blog.


A widget that displays information on NBA player, Dwyane Wade that includes updated news.

As many of my friends know, I'm an fanatic Miami Heat fan and you'll find me at the American Airlines Arena for the playoff games this year. Go Heat!

Martin

Togetherness

Some of my good friends are getting married today. Here is their toast:

Ralph and Linda worked closely together,
Everyone there knew Ralph was very clever.
Then Ralph strutted across the office in high heels,
And we all suspected he was working on multiple deals.

Then Ralph and Linda traveled to a trade show,
Which caused most of the office to want to know.
Finally one day it was all made public,
Ralph and Linda were no longer the subject.

The next thing we knew there were four,
And life for them was no longer a bore.
So Jeffrey and Rose gained another dad,
With all of Ralph’s toys, that couldn’t be so bad!

Finally we received our press release,
And we’re here today to celebrate with a Justice of the Peace.
Linda and Ralph, thanks for being such good friends,
Everyone please lift your glasses, because now this toast ends.

Congratulations Ralph and Linda – togetherness for a lifetime!