Notes

The N810′s built-in “Notes” application is good enough for note-taking and rough drafts.  You have your choice of fonts, as well as italic, bold, and underline styles.  You can also do bullet lists and numbered lists.  I’ve used it while offline to write blog posts, which I then copied and pasted here.

One of the advantages of using Notes over Abiword or Google Docs is that the Notes application is optimized for the tablet’s screen resolution, so you don’t have to squint to read your own work.

You can save Notes either as HTML or text files.  The HTML files will open in your desktop browser.

Google Docs

Until about a week ago, I wouldn’t have recommended this option.  For some reason, the tablets default browser seems to clog up and freeze when dealing with certain sites, including Google Docs and Google Maps.  However, I learned recently that someone has created a new browser, called Tear.  Tear is still an alpha release, so it’s a little clunky and quirky, but it’s blazing fast, and handles most of the sites the default browser has trouble with, including Google Docs, Maps, and Facebook.  Google Spreadsheets is still a little slow, but the the word processor works fine.

Here are instructions for downloading Tear:

1. Open the Application Manager.
2. Open the application menu.
3. Click “Tools,” then “Application catalog…”
4. Click “New.”
5. Enter the following settings:

Name : Qole’s repository:
Web address: http://qole.org/repository
Distribution: maemo
Components: main

Then go to “Installable Applications.”  Install “libwebkit”, then Tear.

Abiword

Abiword is an open source (freeware) word processing program available for Windows and Linux PC’s.  I have not used it, but my understanding is that it is intended to be similar to Microsoft Word.  Some enterprising coders ported it over to the N810.  Instructions for installing Abiword on the N810 can be found here.

Note: I have not used Abiword, so I can’t endorse or disparage it.  If you have experience with it, please feel free to share in the comments section.

Spreadsheets: Gnumeric

For a spreadsheet application that can read MS Excel formats, try Gnumeric.  Once again, I haven’t used this, so if you are familiar with it, please feel free to comment.

As always, the technological marvel that is the Nokia N810 can be purchased here.

Update 1/8/2012: This post originally included screenshots, but they were unfortunately lost during the transition from my other site.  The instructions are still here, though.

I previously wrote about using MyPhoneExplorer to synchronize my Sony Ericsson w580i with my Google Calendar, but did not provide instructions.  One of my readers emailed me recently wondering how to set up Google Calendar synchronization.  Here are the instructions I gave her, along with some screenshots:

1.  Click on the “File” menu and choose “Options.”  A popup menu will open.

2.  Choose Sync from the list on the left of the popup menu.

You should now see the word Sync in bold to the right of the list.  Under Sync, you should see “Contacts” and “Calendar.”
3.  Choose “Google” from the drop-down menu under “Calendar,” and click the “Advanced” button to the right of the menu.

4.  Enter your your Google email address and password.  Once you enter your username and password, you will see a list of all the calendars in your account, and you can choose which ones you want to synchronize.

You will also need to select your preferred synchronization method from a list of options.  I recommend choosing “Sync Both,” and checking the following boxes:

• “Compare only changed events (faster”
• Show confirmation window before MyPhoneExplorer makes any changes

This way, you can enter appointments into either calendar and have them synchronize to both.  Also, you can view a list of proposed changes and make sure they are correct before changing anything.

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After a few Google searches, I found a utility called MyPhoneExplorer.  In addition to GCal synchronization, MyPhoneExplorer allows you to edit and backup your phone numbers, calendar and task entries, and transfer files between the phone and your computer.

MyPhoneExplorer is donation-ware, meaning that it is free to use and download, but the developers hope you will appreciate their hard work and send them some money through PayPal.

MyPhoneExplorer can be downloaded at this link: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Mobile-Phone-Tools/Sony-Ericsson/MyPhoneExplorer.shtml.  As with any software download, I encourage you to scan it with an antivirus program before installing or using it.

Update: Instructions for setting up Google Calendar sync can be found in this post.

GooSync is a utility that allows you to synchronize your Google Calendar with a variety of portable devices, including Windows Mobile Pocket PC’s and smart phones. I downloaded it to my Toshiba e330, which runs Pocket PC 2002. According to GooSync’s site, I could also use it with my Sony Ericsson W580i cell phone if I wanted to.

GooSync has both a free and a premium version. The free version will only sync calendar data, while the premium version, which costs about 20 pounds per year (GooSync is in the UK), will also sync contacts and tasks. I’ve found the free version to be perfectly adequate for my needs.

User Interface and Functionality

To install GooSync, I first had to register for a free account. I then downloaded a .cab file to my desktop, transferred it to my Pocket PC via ActiveSync, and opened it through my mobile device’s file explorer. The process took about 10 minutes. I had to enter my Google Account username and password on the mobile device the first time I used the software, but you don’t have to share that information when you register.

To use GooSync, you have to be connected to the internet, either by syncing with your desktop, or by using a wireless connection. Many cell phones can synchronize over the air. In my case, I open GooSync from my mobile device’s start menu, tap the “Start” button, and wait while the software does the rest. Syncing takes about one minute.

I’ve found GooSync to be very good at updating the right calendar, with one exception: Cutting and pasting appointments can confuse the free version. I used the cut and paste function to move several appointments on my mobile device. When I synced it later, GooSync placed both the old and new appointment times on both calendars. I guess you have to change your appointments manually if you use this utility.

Complaints

I attempted to use GooSync with my Sony Ericsson W580i cell phone, but it does not seem to have the option of syncing the phone through a USB cable.  Instead, I would have had to sync over the air and pay for data usage.  To sync my phone, I use a free utility called MyPhoneExplorer that syncs my phone and GCal without using data.

Conclusion

I’m very pleased with this software. Other synchronization solutions are available, but many of them require the installation of multiple software programs in order to work. GooSync appears to be the simplest.  It installs with minimal hassle, and with the exception of the cut and paste function, works smoothly and quickly. I would give this utility 4 out of 5 stars.

Further Reading

For more information, see the following links:

1. http://www.goosync.com/ – GooSync’s home page
2. http://andrewterry.com/2006/11/13/going-ga-ga-over-goosync/ – Another GooSync review
3. http://mytreo.net/archives/2007/09/goosync-for-your-treo.html – Review by a Treo owner
4. http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/GooSync_Premium_and_the_search_for_freedom.php – This review is more in-depth and technical