While I hesitate to call something like this actual news - just call it a slow news night - I recently purchased a new smart phone.  I got tired of always having to say things like - "I'll have to check my schedule when I get home" and "Once I get back to my computer to check my email, I'll  take a look at that..." etc...  So I knew that some sort of PDA was needed. 

I've been wanting a Palm PDA for a while now, but never really got around to getting one or justifying one to myself.  I also didn't like the idea of having to carry around both a PDA and a phone, so...the Treo seemed like the perfect combination.  I was just out of contract with my current cell service, so I thought I'd switch to a new phone, new plan etc...  That whole process will be the subject of another article someday...

I've been contributing code to the Horde Project for a number of years now, and support for 'syncing' has recently gotten a boost.  As I keep all my contacts and calendar info on a Horde server, I was anxious to see if the Treo would sync properly. 

Thankfully, with new smartphone in hand, a new install of the Synthesis SyncML client on the Treo and a fresh backup of the entire Horde database I was ready to try.

 Well, it was pretty much a non-event.  Things 'Just Worked' the first time out....well, that's not exactly true, but totally erasing all my contacts during a sync was MY fault, not the software...but that's what the backup was for...

 Anyway, I can now access my calendar, contacts and email all from anywhere and everywhere (actually, in this case anywhere and everywhere would be defined as 'within the service area').  I can add events to my calender, sync them with the Horde server, and my Wife can see that I just made a new dentist appointment for Friday before she even talks to me. 

 Of course, the coolest part of it is that I can connect it to my laptop and use it as a modem...in fact that's how I'm writing this article right now.  The connection is not 'cable-fast', but it reminds me of the days when I had my IDSL connection....oh, yea, and whenever I'm bored, I can see how long it will take me to loose against it playing chess...