To Trash or Archive? That is the Question...

I've spending most of the week here in chilly Bellevue, WA at the MVP Summit!  For this trip, I'm staying connected with my Windows Phone 7 and my new HP Envy X2 with Windows 8. I'm  accessing my Gmail account from both OSes and I noticed something interesting with the handling of mail within their individual apps.

On the Windows Phone, the mail application has a trash icon for deleting messages.  When I delete from the phone, the API call to Google is "archive" and that message is simply archived and moved out of my inbox.

On the Windows 8 native Mail application, the trash icon sends the API call for "delete" to Google, sending the message to the trash, which is removed after 30 days.

Perhaps the reason is because when you are on your phone, you probably aren't actively "managing" messages and archiving them allows you to remove them from your device, but not really delete them.  From your computer, you might be more actively sorting and addressing messages, where a true "delete" function is more desirable.  Or maybe I'm over thinking it.  Since the applications were developed by different Microsoft product groups, they simply selected different API functions. 

While it might be desirable to have the same experience across both of my Windows devices, I can use the difference to my advantage - making sure that my mail ends up where I want it, depending on where I delete it from.

AT&T: The Great Teacher

Ah, AT&T.  My favorite service provider.  My day just wouldn't be complete without them and they've taught me so much.  Let's recap:

1) When you have a problem dialing one number in your DID block, you can not open a ticket using the automated system - because a DID number is not a PRI circuit, nor is it an individual line and those are the only two choices available.  Also, it is remarkably difficult (near impossible) to open a ticket without using the automated system.

2) When you open a ticket for your PRI circuit, simply so you can then talk to technician to tell them it's not really your circuit you are having trouble with, they will immediately test your circuit.  Thus disconnecting you.

3) When you move from one PRI circuit to another, your DID numbers must be both ported to the switch and programmed to the circuit.  Both parts might not actually be done, even though they are both required for a functioning number.

4) It takes no less that 4 people (and 4 visits) to install a managed, fiber Internet circuit.

5) When they seamlessly cut your IP addresses over to that new circuit, the technician will not know that the DNS system will automatically suspend your reverse DNS zone.  No one will tell you this.

6) Not even the first DNS technician you talk to a day later after you discover some places won't accept your email because your reverse DNS records are missing.

7) But the 2nd guy you talk to will know this.  But it's something they discover accidentally as they do their job.  It's not written down anywhere.

Now if they would only tell me where to send the gear from our old managed Internet connection, I'd be golden.

Detail Levels in Outlook Calendar

In the monthly view on the Outlook 2010 calendar, you have the option of several "Detail Views" - Low, Medium and High. If you accidentally select anything other than the default of high, you might be in for a surprise - with any other view most of your calendar items don't appear.

• Show Low Detail - Only holidays appear on a blank calendar.
• Show Medium Detail - Holidays and color bars appear that indicate days on which you have calendar items.
• Show High Detail - Time and header information, including category colors for calendar items appear.

I'm not exactly sure when I'd have a use for any view other than high detail, but this is useful information in case appointments suddenly disappear for you or someone you support.