Scott Hanselman

Welll that sucks...more quotas and limits on the Smart Watch

March 15, 2004 Comment on this post [8] Posted in Bugs
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Crapola.  Got this error message today, from the Outlook plug-in that syncs my Calendar with the MSNDirect Smart Watch services.

Sync started at 03/15/2004 10:09:49

Add of [Appt: Some Appt.] failed: You have exceeded your monthly quota of calendar updates.

Lovely that they TOLD me this.  Crappy that it's the 15th of the damn month and I'm now sans-wrist-calendar until 4/1.

Update: Joel Grossman, the VERY amicable Lead Program Manager for SPOT at Microsoft has fixed this "bug" and I'm back syncing a few hours later!  How's that for customer service.  This is why I say Microsoft isn't 30,000 people in 1 company, it's 30 people in 1000 little companies.  Thanks Joel!

About Scott

Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.

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March 15, 2004 23:23
That'll teach you to read the fine print. :)

On their legal disclaimer page, http://direct.msn.com/about/agreement.aspx, section 3.2, paragraph two:

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The Service includes a monthly limitation on the number of personal messages that you may receive through MSN Messenger. If Microsoft enables the Service to provide additional messages through MSN Messenger (up to a maximum limit), additional fees will be due if you choose to increase your monthly limitation. If you are using a Microsoft Windows operating system on your personal computer, you may also choose to send your Microsoft Outlook calendar appointments to your Watch. To enable this feature, you must install additional software from the Site to your personal computer. There is a separate limit on the number of calendar appointments that you may receive, which may not be increased.
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Looks like you're hosed, man. And with no recourse but to cancel service. That sucks.
March 16, 2004 0:35
Yeah, dont know about you, but I am finding my SPOT watch far less than its cracked out to be.
March 16, 2004 0:39
Wow, that really reduces the utility of the Outlook integration. I wonder if that's a common problem, or if you just have more calendar updates the most people.
March 16, 2004 6:07
UPDATE: I heard from Joel Grossman, the Lead Program Manager for SPOT, and he's fixed some bug that caused this! So how's that for customer service! :)
March 16, 2004 8:13
Nice that they fixed it, but did they happen to mention what the actual limits are in your conversations with them? That could get to be a drag (esp. for someone with your calendaring dexterity :-)).
March 16, 2004 19:48
Did he fix the issue for you specifically? Or for the whole service? Or for a firmware update for some upcoming release?
March 17, 2004 13:16
Cancel Service? Hell no. Early adopters don't give up that easy! :) Looks like it's fixed for everyone. Also, a new watch face and new channel have posted!
March 18, 2004 5:42
Other than this little snafu (now fixed), how do you recommend the Smart Watch?
[ ] Nah, what-a-waste.
[ ] Eh, kinda cool ~
[ ] Man, should seriously consider.
[ ] Damn, you gotta get one!
[ ] Other?

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.