Windows Phone 7 – Podcasts

So, I really got into podcasts when I started using the Zune and the Zune software.  I really liked how it managed the Podcasts, to include adding urls for podcast that were not listed in the Zune catalog.  With Windows Phone, I just synched my existing podcast collection to my phone.  Let me preface this with; I have never had a problem with the need to connect my phone to a computer.  Zune has offered wifi synching for quite some time now, I tried it and didn’t like it, a personal opinion/preference.

So, I noticed while picking through my collection of podcasts on my phone, I noticed there was a subscribe button.  I had to try it.  At first it was a pretty cool function but after a few days I am very suspicious of the accuracy of its content update.  A few concerns I have:

• Content Management: I added 32GB to my Focus so not an urgent one for me but for those with the 8GB it shipped with it has to be a bigger issue.  With the tethered method, the Zune software detected that a podcast entry had been listened to and it removed it from the device.  With the new system, once you subscribe to the podcast on the phone it no longer synchs via the Zune software (at least that’s what I have seen).  With the on phone podcast aggregator, once you tell it how many items you want to keep, it keeps them even if they have been listened to.
• Update Frequency:  I have matched up my phone collection to my Zune (computer) collection; the phone is never as current as what is on the computer.
• Connectivity: Now I have had issues with my phone connecting to my Linksys wireless router and more inclined to think it is the router more than the phone but I have seen the issue on other wireless connections.  The phone notices a new podcast entry is available or I subscribe to a new podcast. The marketplace shows there are downloads.  When I check to see what downloads are in the queue they all say attention required.  I turned on the download when on wifi only to save myself from going beyond my monthly data limit of course.  If I disconnect from wifi and connect right back to the say wifi network the downloads start flowing.
• Format:  On more than one occasion a podcast episode finishes downloading and when I try to play it, the phone tells me it is not in a format it can play.  This is really puzzling since they are podcasts listed in the phone’s marketplace.

I think this is a really cool feature and I hope that in some further testing these issues are resolved or can be simply explained.  Scenarios such as travelling, having this feature could eliminate the need to install Zune on my laptop to keep my podcast episodes up to date.

Windows Phone 7 – Bits of Mango – People Hub

Lots of new stuff so I am looking at just little pieces of the Mango’ed WindowsPhone. 

The inclusion of Twitter and LinkedIn makes the People hub even better.  I wish home.live.com would restore Twitter as a connected service but it’s on the phone so moving on.  The new people hub is great for finding a contact to call or message (email, SMS, Facebook chat or Windows Live Messenger).  Additionally on the What’s New section, just a swipe from the listing you can follow your social streams, all without ever going to facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc.

A “feature” that was advertised in the group of 500 was “groups”.  I was not interested at all when I first saw that.  After setting up two groups, one for Family and one for Friends and then pinned it to my home screen, I have seen the light.   The Live Tile scrolls a marquee of their contact picture and any updates, such as a post on facebook, as well as the number of messages from anyone in that group.  On one hand I have a little disappointment about the lack of toast notifications based on groups, similar to the issue of new email in sub-folders (I will comment on the email apps in a future post), but if I were social and added lots of contacts to one of these groups I could see being overwhelmed with Toast notifications.

Much like the groups tile, pinning a contact to your home screen provides the same live tile interaction.  Additionally if you look at a contact, especially when you connect all of their accounts (facebook, linkedin, twitter, etc…) you can see all of their activity right from the home screen.  Opening the contact gives you a similar “What’s new” as the general one in the People Hub and additionally it has a new section labeled Pictures which pulls from Skydrive as well as Facebook. 

The socialness is very cool, at least technically as it aggregates all of these streams to include interacting (commenting, liking, re-tweeting) without using specific apps.  It also makes great use of the Windows Live Messenger stream.  Again a service I rarely use directly but it’s there.

Treatment–Not Approved Then Approved

So the doctor’s appeal convinced my insurance company to approve the “experimental” treatment.  Kicker is I started a new job a few days ago so they are no longer my insurance company.  The three weeks on Methotrexate with no steroids has had no effect, well no positive effect, as without the steroids the pain levels and motor skills have returned to pre-steroid level.

Windows Phone 7 – Updates

Be warned this is a Rant.  So with the issues we saw with NoDo and the feedback one expected the Mango rollout to be handled differently.  In some ways it was, AT&T didn’t drag their feet approving it, the update worked with minimal (no issues in my case) issues on the Samsung Focus.  All good right?  Ummm No!

So I used the method outline on wpcentral to get my phones updated.  Now the reports did say that the rollout was going to be  gradual so why am I complaining right?  I purchased my Samsung Focus on the day of it’s United States release, entering an AT&T store a few hours after it opened.  Considering I am in the Eastern Standard Time Zone that would be the first possible hours of the launch.  Based on numbers the release of Windows Phone have not been huge.  So how did a customer who bought the phone just a few hours after the launch not fall into the first wave of updates?

I have Mango so no big deal huh?  I have not been able to confirm this but it would seem that since I updated my phone before it was selected for update means it is not registered correctly because when I access the new Web version of the Windows Phone app market when I try to get a 7.5 only app I am rewarded with:

“learn how to update your phone?”  Wow that’s intuitive. 

I am still learning the new features and really like the update to what was already a very nice mobile platform but the update process really needs improvement.

Treatment–in the interim

So I called the doctor to inquire about refilling my prednisone.  So instead of renewing the steroid and since the appeal of the insurance’s denial of inflimax/remicade was still pending I was given a new prescription.  At this point I have tired of questioning it.  So the new approach is Methotrexate.  So looking at some information about this medication all I can do is shrug my shoulders.  Yeah there are some small mentions of this medication in cases of treating Sarcoidosis but they are minor mentions.  Really not sure what the plan is but symptoms have peaked and are at a consistent point so if this works great, if not and things don’t get worse I will just chalk it up to practice I guess.  The whole approval of the doctor’s method of treatment is about to start all over as I will be starting a new job soon with new health coverage so we will have to see how that goes.

Experimental Treatment

Last I heard the doctor was appealing the Health Insurance’s (Anthem) decision regarding the proposed Remicade/Infliximab treatments based on their ruling it is experimental.  So really no news on this end but it was interesting to find the following story as it seems to match up, right down to the insurance company who denied the treatment:  http://www.inspire.com/groups/stop-sarcoidosis/discussion/insurance-wont-pay-for-remicade-infusion

Treatment–ummm no

So, I have been wrestling with the ideas of this “likely” diagnosis and the proposed treatment for over a week.  On one hand it takes 9 years to come up with a likely diagnosis.  On the other hand there is this treatment that seems to be fairly new and the list of side effects seems rather lengthy and honestly scared me.  That combined with the fact that the symptoms persist despite the steroid treatment.  Yes the pain was greatly reduced but not being able to use one leg is not much of an improvement, the enlarged and rather uncomfortable spleen, the nerve overload in both feet…

Well that all changed.  In the mail was a letter from my healthcare provider regarding their disapproval of the proposed treatment.  I guess I am not completely surprised but it is disappointing.  Their justification for their finding was that the treatment involving Remicade is experimental.  Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t completely surprising considering the diagnosis, as I mentioned in a previous post the doctor’s termed their diagnosis as “likely”.  I do find it a little interesting that while they claim a treatment is experimental, they offer no alternative treatments.

Over the course of a few weeks I have done some research (to include a study where a splenectomy was done to diagnosis sarcoidosis ) and this helps confirm I am just stuck in a no-win situation and like the first episode my only hope is riding out the symptoms until a point where I can start my own physical rehab.  The downside of that is that in the first episode it was about a year before I could start any rehab.

So, I guess I call the doctor tomorrow to see if she has any other great ideas, but I won’t be expecting much of an answer.  Oh yeah, the bill for the services came in… happy happy joy joy

“Likely” Diagnosis – What my provider says

So, I did what I could to forget all about the information I received on Friday… I didn’t say I was successful.  I just have to post this page that the medical system that has been attending to me over the course of a few years and two bouts of Transverse Myelitis. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Sarcoidosis/hic_Sarcoidosis_Treatment_Options.aspx

I can’t help focus on the specific of the treatment that I am set to undergo…

• Infliximab or adalimumab: These medications, which are given as an intravenous injection once per month or under the skin (subcutaneous injection), have been used recently for patients with severe sarcoidosis. They are usually used after other options are not successful or not tolerated.

I have to say that I grow more skeptical as time passes.  Again this has gone for several years.  Originally after TM and soon to follow and almost fatal DIC episode, the allergy/immunology experts said I probably had CVIDS (Common Variable Immune Deficiency Syndrome), but most patients who had it required constant infusions and suffered severe symptoms frequently.  The diagnosis was basically shelved.  Of course lymphoma and Hodgkins have come up over and over as well.  Never was a long term treatment plan suggested, heck all of the physical rehab they said I needed never came either until I took matters into my own hands.  Another curious part of their description is “They are usually used after other options are not successful or not tolerated. “  Two occurrences of TM, the first time I was prescribed IV Prednisolone so that they could reduce the swelling and do a lumbar puncture, they never determined I had Transverse Myelitis, it wasn’t until I went to the Cleveland Clinic and saw several doctors and underwent major imaging tests before it was determined I even had TM.  Recently my Neurology doctor said, yep that is a TM reoccurrence and we will get you set up for some IV steroids.  I don’t like them and they are certainly no cure but I never said I couldn’t tolerate them.

Yeah I guess I am just thinking about it too much but it just isn’t adding up at this point.  I would think about a second opinion but I don’t have the time I can take from work at this point to pursue other opinions.

So now I have a “likely” diagnosis, one which has never been mentioned before and lets get treated?  Huh?  The treatment cites “severe” sarcoidosis…  Where did severe come from considering there is no definitive diagnosis.  I did read how Sarcoidosis can be difficult to diagnose and my initial biopsy didn’t show the granuloma they expected but additional tests done days later had markers.  Again how has “severe” been warranted? There seem to be several treatments before we reach the severe level.  Yes all the questions I should have asked my doctor at the time but panic set it and I didn’t really have the composure to form such questions.  I will have to take this text and form it in a question and send to the doctors but it was nice to think out loud and record it here

Windows Phone 7 – Devices

Yes, my decision to be an early adopter of the Windows Phone 7 platform has been pleasurable for me. No different than early iPhone and my own experience jumping on the Droid on platform it wasn’t perfect but no show stoppers. I think the OS is very clean and with the maturation of the apps it is becoming a very strong device for me, surprisingly replacing many things I normally only used a computer for (i.e. RSS reading and sharing). I look forward to the Mango update, but apprehensive about how AT&T will drag it on instead of helping the platform.

I know Microsoft established base hardware requirements that vendors had to follow. That was a great start but as we have seen, the manufacturers then skewed causing a huge disruption and in many case a bad perception of the platform. I added 32GB to my Focus and considering it’s my Zune player and I do several Office features (docs and OneNote) I needed much more than the 8GB. However my addition of the microSD card is not necessarily supported, at least I can’t find anywhere that states it’s supported. As I mentioned before I have access to the LG Windows Phone 7 device that was rolled out here in the United States. I have heard people say they like it, but in my use it hurts the Windows Phone 7 brand. The current user is itching for the new iPhone because while they like the OS, the device does not provide the same level experience as the Samsung Focus. While I understand the counter argument I think this is where the iPhone is stronger. Yes you have very little choice in terms of hardware, but that same detraction is also what makes it strong.

Let’s consider the accessory market. Since the iphone market is so large and consistent the listing for accessories is never ending. The Zune has suffered from the same issue but in that case there was only one maker of the device, the brand just never got traction. I bought a pair of Zune premium ear buds a few years ago and still swear by them. You would think Microsoft would’ve worked to get those made with an inline microphone so you could use them on their Windows Phone, keeping the experience consistent (and I have to say rich because they are the best ear buds I have owned and trust me I have wasted a lot of money on ear buds and these are even better than my Bose QC 2′s). I have been looking for a holster for my Samsung Focus. Yes it’s slim and light enough to just go in the pocket but when at work I prefer a holster for my phone. A colleague where I work has this very cool canvas looking holster but he is an iPhone user and has a huge selection of standard and unique accessories to choose from.

One of my initial disappointments with the Windows Phone 7 was the connector. Yes the devices use what is now the Standard min-USB but being a Zune user, I have a ton of cables and A/V docs that are all pinned for what was the Zune connector. It would be nice to just have that one station where I can plug my Zune HD and phone to for synching. Currently that’s not an issue since I use two different computers for the devices, phone connects to one of my laptops and Zunes (32HD and 8HD) connect to my desktop unit. I bought the 8GB Zune specifically to be used with an alarm clock. To date there is still only one alarm clock that supports the Zune connector and I have to say it’s a lame device but works and was the only choice.

Accessories seem like a small topic and maybe it gets overlooked, but revenue is what shows a product is being accepted. I have been looking for accessories and they just aren’t there. In short I can only repeat that many of the knocks I have heard on Windows Phone 7 are more about the devices than the actual platform. Having been a Windows Mobile user (yeah I know there were tons of accessories in the “stylus” category) this seemed true on that platform as well. Then add the “tweaks” OEMs make (pointing to Samsung and the issues with getting updates) it’s like the USB standards, there is a standard but everyone wants to add what they think is their secret sauce until it becomes an ugly mess and the dispersion gets thrown around instead of squarely where it belongs. Just my rant.

If someone knows who made the Zune Premium Ear Buds for Microsoft, please pass it along because maybe they have a set of ear buds I can get for my phone.

Likely Diagnosis

So, I am still trying to digest the “likely” diagnosis but wanted to record something before it got lost in the churning of my mind.

Arrived back at work today to find a voicemail from the Pulmonary doctor waiting.  Why I wasn’t called on my personal number is just a small annoyance but would have been nice to use my time off to get the necessary blood test done without impacting my already dwindling allowable time off from work… oh well.

So I return the doctor’s call, sort of hopeful.  About 5 hours later I get a call back.  To the doctor’s credit, she already had a treatment plan in mind.  However it was prefaced with “based on some additional testing, it is likely you have Sarcoidosis.”  Yep, you have to love the “likely” pre-cursor.  Considering all of the potential diagnosis (from cat scratch fever, Hodgkins, MS, etc…) this isn’t really out of the norm in my history but still does not instill a great deal of confidence.

So now I have some research to do and find a way to get all of this done without jeopardizing my employment.. yeeeha

On the bright side, if it is neurosarcoidosis this article seems promising.  The downside is the effects on the immune system.