This time I’m asking for help
As you probably know, in real life, I’m an IT consultant giving advice to companies on networking architectural, databasing, TCP/IP, programming and last but not least mobile computing questions.
My new task is giving advice (writing a complete booklet on) on in which direction a given company should go: Microsoft Terminal Servers (with, possibly, Citrix Metaframe) or just “webizing” their in-house, custom-written current applications (whenever possible) - that is, converting it to be Web/ client-side (Ajax / JavaScript / ActiveX) and server-side (Java / ASP etc.).
For this, I’m looking for case studies. For the two distinct cases, I’ve found several case studies (that is, I don’t really need case studies that only discuss why a given company abandoned fat clients and went for, say, Citrix); I’d still need case studies that directly compare the two alternates and explain why a given company decided for one or the other and what influenced their decisions.
That is, if you know of, for example, magazine articles or anything of interest in this very subject (that is, preferably unbiased comparison of the full MS Terminal Server / Citrix solution to converting local apps to run off the Web and using “thin” Web browsers to access them in the company), I’d be highly grateful if you could share it with me – hope I haven’t run into it so far. Just a URL would be sufficient.
Is there possible software out there in the form of our cab install files that are spyware? Is it possible for people to see what we are doing in our phones and pocketpcpdas? like a logging tracking type of software imbeded in our device which tells people what we are doing? what we are downloading..etc..etc..just like how the government can listen to our phone calls. Are possibley our favorite applications such as microsoft live/live search ot tomTom7 tracking software which is telling companies or the government what we are doing on our devices? like how Skyfire can log what you are doing with their web browser through their servers...
....just wanted to know if its possible and has anybody heard of such things
There have been trojans in the wild for pocket pc - the Brador.A trojan did open a backdoor exploit to allow remote access to a device. And there have been other nasty things for Palm.
But, they've been really rare, and mostly proof of concept kind of things. I'd say the far greater risk is that, if you use *.exe installers from your desktop or laptop to put software on your mobile, that the desktop or laptop could become infected by something seeded in the *.exe file.
So, always scan any installers, ideally as you download (ie. with and AV app integrated with your browser, like Norton) before you execute them. When docked to your PC, you can also scan your mobile - I use Vista on one of my machines at home, and dock my Tilt to it without setting it up, so it's just like any other mass storage device. Norton will scan it like any other drive or storage device.
moegdaog said:
Is there possible software out there in the form of our cab install files that are spyware? Is it possible for people to see what we are doing in our phones and pocketpcpdas? like a logging tracking type of software imbeded in our device which tells people what we are doing? what we are downloading..etc..etc..just like how the government can listen to our phone calls. Are possibley our favorite applications such as microsoft live/live search ot tomTom7 tracking software which is telling companies or the government what we are doing on our devices? like how Skyfire can log what you are doing with their web browser through their servers...
....just wanted to know if its possible and has anybody heard of such things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While this is not "spyware" it certainly does what spyware would do - right? report without your knowing it what the phone user was doing?
http://www.pocketpc-live.com/pocketpc-softwares/ultimate-theft-alert-v3-for-pocket-pcs.html
Bill
Yep... but usually it's yourself installing that thing so I wouldn't qualify it as spyware...
Unless someone grabs your phone from you and installs the software against you without you knowing it
Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. I bet if you talked to enough coders you'd find one that would help you write Spyware.
Possible? Yes. Probable? No.
o ok..just wanted to get some general knowledgeon this subject cuz i would hate to have to worry about trojans on my pda maaan.
moegdaog said:
o ok..just wanted to get some general knowledgeon this subject cuz i would hate to have to worry about trojans on my pda maaan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now - Let's say that you were oh say Chinese - and that you knew that LOTS of foreigners were coming over for say - oh - a lot of games - would you PAY someone to put spyware on their phones?
hmmmm. . . MAYBE...
Just a thought...
Bill
Hello Everyone,
I recently bought an EEE PC as a second computer and seeing as it's about the most easily lost or stolen laptop ever made, I thought it might be an idea to run some software on it that might help me recover it should it ever go missing.
After trying a few existing bits of software and not finding any satisfactory, I resorted to writing my own.
Since it seemed useful to me, I thought I'd make it available to anyone interested. It's a very early version at the moment and very basic, but I don't think there are too many bugs (famous last words!! ).
I thought I would post a message here as I use this forum quite a lot, and I know a lot of people here won't have a problem with editing the config file to set it up, I've tried to make things as simple as possible. However, if you don't know the difference between POP3 and SMTP mail servers, this app is probably not for you!!
If people are interested, I'll continue to develop it further. A few ideas are listed on my website.
Visit www.ajhonline.co.uk for download links and help.
Alex
this isn't hard to circumvent.
Nice app, but wouldn't they probably wipe the HDD?
How would it compare to Lojack's (utilizes Computrace) service? Some laptops have the Computrace service embedded in the bios. I currently use a Dell D410 and Panasonic CF-19, and they both have Computrace built into the bios. If someone formats my hard drive, or installs another harddrive, the bios will rebuild the neccessary files, run in the the background and start reporting the IP address back to Lojack.
Yes, of course the hard drive could be wiped, or it could never be connected to the internet. It is also easy to circumvent, although if I do develop it further, it would be fairly straight forward to make it less obvious and better hidden. This is only a very first version, to gauge interest more than anything,
It's not meant to be 100% foolproof, that probably isn't possible anyway. The advantage is it's free. I really developed it because I couldn't get Adeona to work (it just kept failing to connect to its server), not to compete with commercial solutions.
Hmmm, you know how I said I didn't think there were any bugs....
I just found that the Windows version was not saving the detected IP addresses correctly, so it would email you a "new" IP address message every time the computer was rebooted.
However the problem is now fixed, and a new version 0.1a available for download. The cross platform version wouldn't have been affected, but there's a new version of that too, just for completeness.
Sorry
Alex
I've now made some additions and released a new version which includes the changes below:
Added a separate configuration application to simplify initial setup
Added the ability to encrypt the mail server password for better security
Added a link to DNSTools to the IP Detected email for easy lookup of the WHOIS records for the IP Address
As before, visit www.ajhonline.co.uk and download version 0.2 from there.
Alex
PS - If you are using the Windows version and doing an upgrade from a previous version, make sure you keep a copy of your existing fyl.properties file, otherwise it will be overwritten during the install and any existing known IP addresses will be lost.
huff,.
i wish i have seen this before i lost my friend laptop,.
great help sir,. keep up,.
Version 0.22 is now available for download from www.ajhonline.co.uk.
It's only a small update; you are now able to specify a range of IP addresses as already known so that you don't get an email when one of those is detected.
Alex
Anybody who can do this please help to spam dataviz about their documents2go app. It currently only supports ms proprietary formats, which severely limits interoperability. Support for more formats, particularly OpenDocument ISO/IEC 26300:2006 (i.e. openoffice, lotus symphony, etc.).
Anybody who has a moment, please add a suggestion to their feedback form here: http://www.dataviz.com/eforms/feedback/feedback_form.html requesting this. The feedback is free and can only improve the program, even if you don't regularly use anything non-ms, wouldn't it be nice to know that if someone sends you an ODT that you'll be able to open it?
You do know with open office yoru able to save them using the ms proprietary format? My only issue is the price of it.
That doesn't help AT ALL and is in fact completely IRRELEVANT to this topic since I am NOT asking for you to tell me what to do, I AM MAKING a suggestion on what YOU can do to help *everyone*.
case:
1) you have a server with hundreds/thousands of documents and need to access them remotely and be able to open them and do NOT want to have duplicate copies of each file.
2) you receive a document by email and therefore don't have access to your desktop word processor to convert
3) conversion to/from proprietary ms format loses too much of the proprietary nonsense that the resulting converted document is garbage.
Agreed. Done.
Nice post. I hope more people get on board.
Thank you
Here we go:
I use a number of Microsoft Access Databases for my work, and each one is intensely coded and designed and basically run like actual programs. What I am looking for is to be able to take these databases with me. Now understanding that Microsoft and Android are two completely different beasts, what I really am looking for is the ability to take the tables (I use all Back-end database so all my tables are in a completely separate file then all my forms, queries, and reports) and the data with me and be able to run them in a program on Android that keeps the relationships and fields and all of that sort of stuff.
Now what would be great is the ability to use forms (even if special forms for android need to be made), run queries, and even be able to run reports and print as PDFs.
now I know how to code in VBA, hence the extensive coding I have done in Access, so anybody willing to WORK WITH in creating an Android Program to basically be an extension of Microsoft Access please contact me. Please not I use the words WORK WITH loosely, while I am trying to learn how to Program for Android, I currently do not have a computer that I can use to develop programs for android on, and well I would be only able to create the "Hello World" starter program and this project seems a slight bit more complicated. But what I can bring to the table is real world experience in testing and using the program day in and day out, a number of already existing Microsoft Access Databases ranging from Complex to Simple that I use every day. Really a program that can run Microsoft Access Tables on Android would be really useful to me and I am willing to do anything to help make this happen.
kronos82 said:
Here we go:
I use a number of Microsoft Access Databases for my work, and each one is intensely coded and designed and basically run like actual programs. What I am looking for is to be able to take these databases with me. Now understanding that Microsoft and Android are two completely different beasts, what I really am looking for is the ability to take the tables (I use all Back-end database so all my tables are in a completely separate file then all my forms, queries, and reports) and the data with me and be able to run them in a program on Android that keeps the relationships and fields and all of that sort of stuff.
Now what would be great is the ability to use forms (even if special forms for android need to be made), run queries, and even be able to run reports and print as PDFs.
now I know how to code in VBA, hence the extensive coding I have done in Access, so anybody willing to WORK WITH in creating an Android Program to basically be an extension of Microsoft Access please contact me. Please not I use the words WORK WITH loosely, while I am trying to learn how to Program for Android, I currently do not have a computer that I can use to develop programs for android on, and well I would be only able to create the "Hello World" starter program and this project seems a slight bit more complicated. But what I can bring to the table is real world experience in testing and using the program day in and day out, a number of already existing Microsoft Access Databases ranging from Complex to Simple that I use every day. Really a program that can run Microsoft Access Tables on Android would be really useful to me and I am willing to do anything to help make this happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we must have the same job
Android utilizes an sqlite database engine and it looks like sqlite already offers a conversion utility HERE. The real question would be how to get the data in and out of the phone. Regarding forms, they definitely would need to be custom built.
Thanks this is deffenetly a start, From what I can tell this This Looks to be the most promising, It looks like all you would have to do is put a MS Access Database file on your SD CARD and have a program access it. That way you copy it back and forth. Unfortunately it doesn't support Access 2003, but I can save down. I also got a lot of learning to do in programing Java programs.
Forms would be as simply as making a program, this is great thanks much
kronos82 said:
Here we go:
I use a number of Microsoft Access Databases for my work, and each one is intensely coded and designed and basically run like actual programs. What I am looking for is to be able to take these databases with me....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to say, "yes, please!" to this idea. I currently use Smart List to Go (the descendant of ThinkDB) on my Palm TX. The TX is dying, and I've been shopping for a replacement. HanDBase exists for the iPhone, but I don't want an iPhone. So I've been focused on WinMo - not by choice as much as by necessity.
And android option would be very welcome around my computers.
benmyers2941 said:
I think we must have the same job
Android utilizes an sqlite database engine and it looks like sqlite already offers a conversion utility HERE. The real question would be how to get the data in and out of the phone. Regarding forms, they definitely would need to be custom built.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
androids sqlite its for applications to access and store data using java code.
try the pocket office app
Freedomcaller said:
androids sqlite its for applications to access and store data using java code.
try the pocket office app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly and we're talking about creating an app that would enable manipulation of an sqlite database. Essentially all that would be needed would be to create a ui framework wrapper for the existing api in android. Not the least monumental task I've heard of an individual taking on but not the most either.
The versions of pocket office that I've seen for android do not currently support Access databases as far as I'm aware. If I'm wrong could you post a link and save everyone some trouble?
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
kronos82 said:
Thanks this is deffenetly a start, From what I can tell this looks to be the most promising, It looks like all you would have to do is put a MS Access Database file on your SD CARD and have a program access it. That way you copy it back and forth. Unfortunately it doesn't support Access 2003, but I can save down. I also got a lot of learning to do in programing Java programs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jackcess library is now patched to support android (will be in 1.2.2 release). Also seems to support 2000, 2003 and 2007 formats now.
Works great for me.
View jackcess site. Couldn't find anything on support for android. I'm using htc desire and would really like to find program to view ms access file. Can you tell me how you do it?
As I remember reading worked as on PC, while writing had some problems.
This forum prevents me from linking directly, but if you click tracker/patches on Jackcess project, check Android Compatibility Fix - ID: 3101578
The changes are in trunk and will be in the 1.2.2 release. I've added some
notes which will eventually make it to the FAQ page on the website
detailing the compatibility steps:
- Set the system property "com.healthmarketscience.jackcess.broken
Nio=true"
- Set the system property "com.healthmarketscience.jackcess.resour
cePath=res/raw/"
- Copy the *.txt, *.mdb, and *.accdb files from the
"com/healthmarketscience/jackcess/" directory in the Jackcess jar to the
"/res/raw" Android application directory.
- Before executing any Jackcess code, set the current Thread's context
classloader, e.g.
"Thread.currentThread().setContextClassLoader(Database.class.getClassLoader())".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Until this version (1.2.2) is released you need to build lib yourself.
You also need commons-lang and commons-logging from apache commons.
Before you use Jackcess in Android code, you set
Thread.currentThread().setContextClassLoader(
getClass().getClassLoader());
System.setProperty(
"com.healthmarketscience.jackcess.brokenNio",
"true");
System.setProperty(
"com.healthmarketscience.jackcess.resourcePath",
"res/raw/");
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and copy those resource files to res/raw
Then you can work as on PC, for example open /sdcard/yourprogram/file.mdb
Jackcess has no GUI, it's a library to read/write access files.
Getting an Access file into Android
I keep a lot of information on a Psion Revo, which has just turned its face to the wall and is giving up the ghost, and have always backed the information up on to my pc as an Access file. It looks easier to get this into a format acceptable to Android by converting the Access .mbx file into an Excel .xls file. This can be searched readily by Column and Values. Maybe this deals with too simple a need for most enquirers to the forum, but if it helps somebody then so much the better.
hi all i have beenlooking for something the same for some time now and just the other day i came accross this site cellica.com
the android app is free and the desktop application has a 5 day trial period or its $50 to buy it works great the only thing you can not do is create a report from the phone
i have emailed support team and they said they will be adding it on in the future.
Any Updates???
I currently build and use databases in MS Access and was wondering if there are any updates on this topic now that Tablets are in use now. Looking to get the Motorola Xoom (2nd version) in the future, but would love to be able to use a program that I would be able to access my MS Access databases while "on-the-go".
Anyone? This would be huge (I believe), since we now have tablets.
Thanks a bunch,
~Kilch~
Access to MS Access by Android
Hi,
I'm also looking to get on-the-go access to my Access databases on my Android HTC Tattoo.
The file is on it, I just need a tool to access it in read-only / search mode, but judging from the previous comments, there doesn't seem to be an oversupply in applications.
The "convert to Excel format" may be OK for me. I want to use a 3 language Access DB (dictionary) on my phone, so I'll try the Excel solution.
It would be nice if we had an ACCESS reader though...
John
Panacea Database
I know XDA frowns upon excessively hawking your own products here, but I do seem to be directly answering more than one of the reply questions, it just happens that the answer is an application my company released.
The Panacea Database application can handle Access from Access 2000 to Access 2007. It has also worked so far on every Access 2010 database we've tested, and we've received no complaints in that department yet. We release updates from time to time as we improve its functionality and features, often guided in our priorities by user e-mail and market comments. Our next update will be focused on improving screen layout for a variety of Android devices - from small QVGA smartphones, to large WXGA tablets. After that we may move onto other functionality.
In the interest of fairness, I'll point out arafa1209's post. He mentions Celicca Database, which is the only other application that I know of that deals with Access databases on Android. It has features Panacea does not have (yet) - ability to work with forms, ability to create and modify databases, ability to connect to your PC etc. Like us, they also send out updates improving their app regularly. So you can compare the apps, and use which one fits your needs better (or use both). If anyone knows of any others they can post here as well, but these are the only two I know of currently.
Just tried Panacea. Although it is more basic and annoyingly doesn't remember the last files you'be opened necessitating finding the file each time you open the app I prefer it for the simple reason you don't have to convert the Access database to another format.
amwebby said:
doesn't remember the last files you'be opened necessitating finding the file each time you open the app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you update the app, this should be fixed, the last version should have this feature.
Got the update last week. Certainly goes a long way to making it more user-friendly. Keep up the great work!
Since the last update it seems to be broken. Although it remembers the last database I cannot open a table within any database.
Edit: It appears the file was corrupted. Loaded a new file and all working again.
Any news in this topic.
I tried panacea Database, works fine. But not very effective. Searching data is a must for me however I didnt manage to find a search option. When I search for tables, it cant even locate the tables by names.