Comments on: Remotely Access PC Files With Avvenu

Avvenu has announced that its free remote access service now supports a range of devices from Palm, including the Treo 650 smartphone, the LifeDrive, and the new Palm TX handheld. Specifically optimized for handheld devices, this service gives Palm customers fast access to their files, folders and photos stored on a computer, directly from their Palm devices.

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Why is this such a big deal?

sr4 @ 10/13/2005 5:45:09 PM #

On that other site (where I am banned from commenting) they are making a huge deal about this, but I cant really see why. Local storage is still very much faster than network, and the files you wish to manipulate does not necessarily reside on your own PC in any case.

Remote Access of files are nice, but access of content on TV and other internet services e.g. MobiTV and your company servers are much more valuable.

Surur

RE: Why is this such a big deal?

gfunkmagic @ 10/13/2005 6:01:59 PM #

It's an impressive solution for many reason imo..

First of all, it enables RDS-type functionlaity for the vast number XP Home users who dont have this capability. Second, since it is browser based, there is no device client needed, which also makes it platform independent. Finally, it is free for Palm users unlike other similar products like Winhand which makes it very attractive.

I've tried Avvenu on my Treo 650 and Axim x50v, and it works failry well, though a bit slow imo...

--------------------
Gaurav

RE: Why is this such a big deal?

sr4 @ 10/13/2005 6:44:25 PM #

Yes its nice, but J.K. makes it sound as if its world changing. I just don't see why this direction is "Palm's next great thing".

Surur

RE: Why is this such a big deal?

Puppy @ 10/13/2005 8:29:40 PM #

What I'm not clear about is-does your data funnel through this service? Do they have access to your computer or what you're viewing?

How is this better than just using the free VNC programs? (Although maybe the security is better/easier to use?)

I do think it's a good move for Palm though, and maybe is what that guy was talking about months ago when referencing having all your files available on the go?

RE: Why is this such a big deal?

onestar @ 10/13/2005 8:50:09 PM #

My biggest question is...would someone be able to move files from, say, a SD card to my home PC and vice versa?

I saw that the TX doesn't work like the LifeDrive's USB drive feature, and wonder if this we could move data back and forth, or is this just a read-only feature?

One by one, the penguins are stealing my sanity.

All your data are belong to me.

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 10/13/2005 9:14:53 PM #

What I'm not clear about is-does your data funnel through this service? Do they have access to your computer or what you're viewing?

People already trust easy-to-hack "free" email services. Why not take the next step, Bubba? And would you mind leaving your house door unlocked and the keys to your car in the vehicle too? Thanks.

------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038

NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823

RE: Why is this such a big deal?

AdamaDBrown @ 10/14/2005 3:06:55 AM #

I too fail to see why this is a big deal. I do this all the time with VNC. You can also remotely use your desktop, and it supports any combination of platforms.

RE: Why is this such a big deal?

joad @ 10/14/2005 3:09:15 AM #

Nice idea. 3 things bother me so far:

1) No "logoff" on the page. I can leave the browser, then a while later come back in at the "page view" level and my desktop is wide open. Not a great idea. Complete root level access isn't really my cup of tea either - they should limit it to the specific folders I choose (I think Sprint's Business Connection does that).

2) Limit of 2MB download. Guess that kills any chance of retrieving an MP3 off my computer, or much else than a random document. Maybe they have plans of making >2MB the "premium" version.

3) klunky interface on the Palm: like 40 pages of 3 files each page. My battery will be dead before I find the file I want.

The poor security means I'm remoting in tonight to kill the service. Nice that it's freeware, but I don't want to accidentally give someone the keys to my entire drive with this thing. I'll wait for version 2.x.

Free "GoToMyPC"?

sford @ 10/13/2005 11:54:55 PM #

The Palm Web site says, "Remotely access your computer from the Palm TX or any computer with a web browser."

Does the "or any computer..." mean this is a way to get the GoToMyPC functionality from one PC to another for free?

____________________________________
Pilot Pro -> III -> IIIe -> Nino (yeah...oops!) -> IIIc -> VIIx -> m505 -> NR70V -> NZ90 -> NX60 -> T3 -> Zire 72s

www.PalmKB.com

RE: Free

sford @ 10/14/2005 12:20:28 AM #

Nevermind. :)

Just tested it myself with my wireless laptop, and yes, it does work like that. I think that's pretty cool.

____________________________________
Pilot Pro -> III -> IIIe -> Nino (yeah...oops!) -> IIIc -> VIIx -> m505 -> NR70V -> NZ90 -> NX60 -> T3 -> Zire 72s

www.PalmKB.com

RE: Free

bsquare @ 10/14/2005 8:36:33 AM #

1. Spend tons of money setting up applications, network and staff to provide FREE access for users to use your network and saturate bandwidth to access their PC's remotely.
2. ?????
3. Profit!

A similar plan seems to be working out well for Avantgo so far, so I guess I see why Palm would want to push ahead with this.

RE: Free as in "BEER"

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 10/14/2005 9:28:53 AM #

1. Spend tons of money setting up applications, network and staff to provide FREE access for users to use your network and saturate bandwidth to access their PC's remotely.
2. ?????
3. Profit!

A similar plan seems to be working out well for Avantgo so far, so I guess I see why Palm would want to push ahead with this.

Can you flesh out "2" a bit more? Vicious.
;-O

And AvantGo only burned through over $100 MILLION in venture capital befofe being sold off for a pittance.

I wish Palm and PalmSource could have just got their act together and created a slick, stable regular VNC app for all users. That would have helped show Palm is serious about business users.

I expect that Avvenu - like the moribund AvantGo - will try to charge users a fee for accessing larger amounts of data. I also expect that their business plan will fail as spectacularly as AvantGo's did.

RE: Free

hkklife @ 10/14/2005 10:46:49 AM #

Has their been a (mobile) app/service/company that has dodged the executioner's axe as long as AvantGo has?

I've been using it since, what, '00 or '01 or so and it's never been impressive.

Even with speedy DSL or T1 connections feeding it, going straight to 128mb main memory instead of SD, and with relatively fast CPUs in the latest PDAs, AvantGo gets slower and buggier with each new built--so all of the problems have to be occuring on their server side.

I finally gave up on them and just removed the app and all channel data completely. It was sort of sad to finally give up on them as I still find handheld web browsing (ESPECIALLY on Blazer 4.x) slow, buggy, and maddeningly aggravating but I just couldn't take their "issues" anymore.

RE: Free

halcyon @ 10/14/2005 12:33:56 PM #

As soon as I discovered Sunrise Desktop and Plucker I said goodbye to Avantgo. With RSS feeds there are infinite more sites to pull news and info from. Plus there are no annoying adds. It's sad (for them) that they pumped that kind of money into something that is trounced by freeware.

RE: Free

bsquare @ 10/14/2005 1:58:02 PM #

I don't want to turn this into (yet another) Avantgo vs. iSilo/Plucker/etc debate, but to this day there is nothing that can do what Avantgo can do. I too, love Sunrise these days, but I can't sync and download without the PC, as Avantgo can with the AGConnect app.

Example, using Avantgo with this new PalmTX (with wifi) you can walk into a Starbucks, sync with Avantgo via the AGConnect app, then walk back out. Sunrise/iSilo? Not without your PC. Blazer or a web browser? Your stuck sitting in there to stay connected to the network. What if you want to do one last sync before you hop on the plane at the airport?

So what's the answer to that? What can grab RSS feeds, spider them into the FULL story (not just the RSS headers) and save them to the Palm so you can continue on without a network connection? Seriously, I wan't to know I'd love to FINALLY find something that can do what Avantgo can so I can move on without it.

RE: Free

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 10/14/2005 2:06:41 PM #

I still find handheld web browsing (ESPECIALLY on Blazer 4.x) slow, buggy, and maddeningly aggravating

Easy solution: NetFront 3.1 browser + UX50/TH55/VZ90

Lack of a good browser is one of the prices you pay for not buying a CLIE. ;-O

------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038

NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823