Bosworth on occasionally connected computing

Adam Bosworth explores the various ways in which occasionally connected devices and programs can work while delivering an agreeable user experience.

“Let's start with a simple case that drives me crazy. As many know, I use and love a Blackberry 7210 for most of my work. I literally don't use a PC sometimes for days on end right now. Mail is a joy. The phone works well for me (I carry a backup for the vast majority of the US that ATT Wireless seems unable to reach), my calender works well. Only my contacts don't synch wirelessly (come on Blackberry!). But browsing isn't fun at all. I like to keep an eye on google's news. And navigating through it using the 7210 is really painful even when GPRS is humming and downright impossible on planes or, as it turns out, in Bedford NY when ATT wireless is your provider. So, I'd like my Blackberry to have google in the cache. Now if anything should be easy it is this. It is a nice simple hierarchy with subjects like Sports, Sci/Tech, ... and a set of stories. But there are a couple of complications. The stories aren't laid out at all well for a mobile device. Menus seem to go on forever. I don't care about sports. Yes, I know, that's un-American. Nor do I care about entertainment. What would the web services browser do?”

I think there are loads of good ideas there for building Central applications. Also I think Central should be available for PDAs as well as this is where occasionally connected computing really comes in handy...

PS: He asks where do expert bloggers find the time to keep posting daily...
Frankly, I've no idea ;)

Posted by Navneet at October 22, 2003 03:26 PM | TrackBack | Comments disabled due to spam