I am a heavy user of Tasks in Outlook. (Some would say I’m just a heavy user, but this isn’t a weight loss blog). Attorneys have lots of deadlines. Believe it or not, so do community college professors (the college is a government bureaucracy after all).

Most smartphone OS’s (iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7) long have natively enabled users to synchronize their email, contacts and calendar from a Microsoft Exchange Server account. But not Tasks natively; you needed third party apps such as NitroDesk TouchDown for Android, TaskTaskHD for iOS and APPA Mundi Tasks for Windows Phone 7.

Well, that’s no longer true for iOS. I knew one new feature of iOS 5 was Reminders. What I didn’t realize right away is that Reminders syncs with Tasks on my Exchange Server account. I’m not sure the sync works perfectly – I need to experiment and then report back – but at least it’s a start. Cool.

What isn’t so cool is that even though Microsoft makes both Windows Phone 7 and Exchange Server, Windows Phone 7 still does not integrate natively with Exchange Server Tasks. Strange Apple is ahead of Microsoft in integrating with Microsoft Exchange Server tasks.

One of my frustrations with the iPad is the lack of additional storage. There is no SD card slot. There also is no USB slot. You can connect USB devices via the Camera Connection Kit. But that’s basically to connect your camera (I guess that’s why they call it a Camera Connection Kit) and upload pictures to your iPad. You can connect a few other things, but a USB external drive isn’t one of them.

The iPad can see files and download files on the hard drive on your desktop or laptop. But that isn’t a very mobile solution. 

There are two solutions which enable you to use WiFi to see, download and even run files on either a SD card or an external hard drive.

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I’m trying to upgrade iTunes on a computer with Windows 7 64 bit computer. I get the dreaded error message: “"Bonjour service failed to start, verify you have sufficient privileges." And I do mean dreaded. Google this error message and add 64 bit. If misery loves company, you’ll have lots of company. And the solutions seem equally miserable, such as completely uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes.

The solution brought back to good old days. Move the install program iTunes64Setup.exe to some directory, in my case C:\temp, and then at the command prompt:

C:\temp>iTunes64Setup.exe NO_BONJOUR=1

The installation runs without Bonjour.

DOS rulez!

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I purchased Apple’s Smart Cover for my wife’s iPad 2. But the Smart Cover only protects the front, not the back.

Eventually I may get a folio case. This one from Scosche looks nice. However, most of the upcoming iPad 2 folio cases are not shipping yet. I want protection in the meantime. Also, ideally, I’d like to be able to use the Smart Cover I’ve already bought, which I don’t think I can do with the folio cases.

Chris (@jenningsc) clued me on on Twitter to the XGear Smart Cover Enhancer for iPad 2. It covers just the back of the iPad 2, and is designed to co-exist with the Smart Cover. I ordered it.

I also wanted my wife to have a safe way of carrying the iPad 2 and a few accessories (adapter, cable, etc.).  I ordered the iPad Travel Express from Waterfield, who I’ve found in the past to make quality products.

These products should be arriving early the week of April 4. I’ll let you know my impressions.

iPad 2 arrives! told you that I couldn’t set up the iPad 2 until I got home late that night. Well, last night we had to take one of our beloved dogs (the fawn colored Italian Greyhound, Dante) to the animal emergency hospital. So I spent the early morning setting up the iPad2 in between coordinating with the vets on a serious condition (probably a tumor that is bleeding internally) with an unclear outcome. Sad update: Dante (2003 – 2011)

Fortunately, setting up the iPad 2 is so stupid easy that I was able to do it quickly even while distracted and upset. I thought I would explain here the steps for any of you who also are transitioning from the iPad to the iPad 2.

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After hanging out in Hong Kong for several extra days, my wife’s iPad 2 decided to end its vacation and make the trip overseas to start work as a magical, revolutionary device. It was a fast trip. The iPad 2, in Hong Kong on March 21, was in Anchorage, Alaska early on March 22, and arrived here the following day, today.

I’m working all day and teaching (which also is work) this evening so I won’t be able to transfer apps from the iPad to the iPad 2 until I stagger home late tonight where my home computer has iTunes linked to the iPad. But I thought I could transfer our AT&T Unlimited Data Plan from the iPad to the iPad2 and set up my wife’s email accounts.

Wrong. I forgot. I’m in Apple World. I first need to hook up the iPad 2 to iTunes at home, and I’m at work. So I need to wait until I get home late tonight.

Once I get the iPad 2 working, I will compare it with the iPad, both in form and feel, and in performance (how they compare running a video, loading a website, etc.), and let you know the results of my comparison. But the comparison period will not be long, as I am selling the iPad (that’s another post).

While I may never get to Hong Kong, my iPad 2 is enjoying an extended vacation there, as I mentioned in iPad 2 stalled in Hong Kong. At least I (or my wife’s iPad 2) is in good company. Warner Crocker of GBM offers this explanation in My iPad 2 Is Still Vacationing on Lantau Island HK:

“Fedex is telling users that Apple chose International Economy Shipping for the iPad 2. That means as far as Fedex is concerned those shipments go on a space available basis. And given the tumult in that region caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, quite a bit of traffic is getting rerouted through Lantau Island in Hong Kong.”

Makes sense. While no one likes to wait, that irritation is truly infinitesimal compared to an 8.9 earthquake + tsunami ruining your day.

Update:
Mar 22, 2011 6:00 AM  Arrived at FedEx location  ANCHORAGE, AK

TiPb has an excellent review of the iPad 2. The name of the blog (which stands for The iPhone/iPod/iPad Blog) made me wonder if this would be another Apple Fanboy review. It isn’t. Rather, like one of our major cable networks, it is “fair and balanced” The review also is thorough. Here are some highlights:

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