Upgrade to WM 6: BEWARE!
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:11 pm
I've just upgraded my PDA/Phone from WM5 to WM6.
The good news is that BirdieSync still works. But a couple of points to watch out for:
1) The WM upgrade will clobber everything on your PDA. So you'll have to re-install BirdieSync (and any other software you have on the PDA). So make sure you've got the relevant installer to hand.
2) I started out upgrading BirdieSync to 1.6.4, which is the version that works in WM6. The upgrade was fairly straightforward, though the instructions could be clearer (see my moan on in the Problem Reports forum). Then, I did the upgrade to WM6, and re-installed BirdieSync, which was painless. I selected the options to sync. with thunderbird and sunbird, and all my contacts and appointments were automatically re-instated from my laptop to the PDA. Wheee!
Then, I tried to sync to my desktop. A bit more dramatic! ActiveSync noticed that something was different, and asked me whether I wanted to merge or overwrite addresses, diaries etc. I said "merge", and it promptly started duplicated all my address book entries! Not pretty. So be very sure you have everything backed up!
3) Note that "Tasks" in WM6 is broken. You cannot filter to show only Active tasks. I'll say that again, otherwise you won't believe me. WM 6 does not let you show only Active tasks. The "filter" option is there: it just doesn't do anything. So my reminder to buy my wife's birthday present is showing on my "Tasks" list now even though the task is not set to start for another six months. So if you use "Tasks" to remind you to do things well in the future ("what a good idea!") you may want to seriously consider staying with WM5.
All in all, not entirely smooth, but less painful than I'd expected...
Robert.
The good news is that BirdieSync still works. But a couple of points to watch out for:
1) The WM upgrade will clobber everything on your PDA. So you'll have to re-install BirdieSync (and any other software you have on the PDA). So make sure you've got the relevant installer to hand.
2) I started out upgrading BirdieSync to 1.6.4, which is the version that works in WM6. The upgrade was fairly straightforward, though the instructions could be clearer (see my moan on in the Problem Reports forum). Then, I did the upgrade to WM6, and re-installed BirdieSync, which was painless. I selected the options to sync. with thunderbird and sunbird, and all my contacts and appointments were automatically re-instated from my laptop to the PDA. Wheee!
Then, I tried to sync to my desktop. A bit more dramatic! ActiveSync noticed that something was different, and asked me whether I wanted to merge or overwrite addresses, diaries etc. I said "merge", and it promptly started duplicated all my address book entries! Not pretty. So be very sure you have everything backed up!
3) Note that "Tasks" in WM6 is broken. You cannot filter to show only Active tasks. I'll say that again, otherwise you won't believe me. WM 6 does not let you show only Active tasks. The "filter" option is there: it just doesn't do anything. So my reminder to buy my wife's birthday present is showing on my "Tasks" list now even though the task is not set to start for another six months. So if you use "Tasks" to remind you to do things well in the future ("what a good idea!") you may want to seriously consider staying with WM5.
All in all, not entirely smooth, but less painful than I'd expected...
Robert.