Epocdigest V1 # 382

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Epoc Digest Mon, 17 Nov 2003 Volume 01 : Number 382

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Sent to: 788 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 11 messages:

==============================

- netBook/S7 screen differences

- Re stickyIcons

- Psion S3(mx)

- Re: Itamar, Keith, Koi Hin ux-50, Martin, English tea

- Sony UX50 replies

- Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 381 (2)

- Web browsers

- Re: no more freezing?

- Win-Netbook, Psion takeover,

- s(3a/c/mx)/Sink

- xbarsetN, nICQ, POS, souped-up Revo rumour, Symbian OS 7 netBook Pro, Backing up

*++++++++++&

Date: 15 Nov 2003 15:05:19 +0100

From: Grant Mearns

Subject: netBook/S7 screen differences

Does anyone know how long the expected working life of the netBook/S7 screen is?

I noticed that the screen of a friend's S7 is more legible on brightness setting one than my own netBook is on level nine. My machine is at least four years old now and has been in constant use over this time. I was wondering if the performance of the backlight deteriorates over time, or whether newer machines have improved screens?

Regards

Grant

*++++++++++&

Date: 15 Nov 2003 15:29:08 +0100

From: Jack

Subject: Re stickyIcons

Itamar wrote:

>>>> There was a macro called "xbarset5mx" that repositioned the programs > on the Extra bar as per your own choice after a hard reset.<<<

No need for any macro...

just after restauration do perform a soft reset and every icon comeback where you earlier placed it.

Only needed is your backuped C/system/apps/shell/shell.ini to be restaured and taken into account by the (soft) reset.

HTH

Jack

*++++++++++&

Date: 15 Nov 2003 19:15:06 +0100

From: Trygve Henriksen

Subject: Psion S3(mx)

Greetings!

Keith Giles wrote:

>> And compared to a Palm, even recent models, the S3mx beats it hands

>> down on just about any task except networking. (Surfing/email)

>Trygve, I know nothing about the Series 3 as I came to Psion with an

> S5. The S3mx sounds as though it would be the perfect replacement

> for my 5mx(s) when they crap out - I don't use the "surfing/email"

> functions at all. Maybe I should start looking for one.

Maybe....

but file formats are not compatible, though...

> Does it have the ribbon cable problem?

Not that I'm aware of.

Some have reported a similar problem with the row of application buttons, though. (But you can still use the machine if that happens...)

> Can you use a CF card?

Nope. you need Psion's own SSD's (Solid State Disk) for storage.

That's one thing we hope POS changes if they start making a revised machine.

> I assume one doesn't use PsiWin 2.3.3 with it, or do you?

Works just swell :-)

It even adds the 'export to .rtf' function to Psion Word the first time you connect...

Drag'n Drop conversion works, it allows the S3 to see your PC's drives(NOT a good idea to have a lot of networked drives connected to servers in another county, though, as it tends to slow file open/save functions)

The only thing you can't do is that copy-paste thing, but I never use that anyhow. (Was it copy-anywhere or crash-anytime it was called?)

> Is the PC cable different from the 5/netBook?

That depends...

The original S3 and the S3a doesn't have a serial port, only a 6pin high-speed network connector(1.5Mb/s), and need a serial adapter lovingly referred to as the 'soap-on-a-rope' cable. The S3c, S3mx and Siena all use the same cable as the S5/netBook.

> I also assume it operates on plain vanilla alkaline batteries.

Alcaline or whatever type of rechargeables you prefer.

A set of 2 x AA alcalines can give up to 60 - 80 hours active usage if you're lucky.

(And doesn't do much infrared, serial or have SSD's plugged in)

:-)

Trygve

Now waiting for a Nokia communicator 9000 to arrive...

*++++++++++&

Date: 15 Nov 2003 19:54:14 +0100

From: Scott Lloyd

Subject: Re: Itamar, Keith, Koi Hin ux-50, Martin, English tea

Hello my friends,

Great last digest. I want to thank Itamar for his wonderful contributions and debating skills and Martin on his Symbian Net Pro feelings. Last week I was the quest speaker at a software (CAD) users group. Everyone was eyeing my netbook and the curious ones did ask me about it, my answer and their responses made very clear what I have felt for a long time. Psion

did a miserable job of marketing in the US. If they had done their job here correctly, I believe they would be as strong as

palm and linix type machines and a strong contender in the US market. It is my hope that as Psion re-builds their strength

they go after the US market with a vengeance. Many thanks to Keith for his meat and potatoes feelings on his 5mx, my

feelings are similar in many respects. 3Mx: great machine, highly understated, same with the basic 3a. To Koi Hin: I too

was disappointed in the form factor (too small for me) of the ux-50, still a neat machine. On a good note, its a beautiful

winter day in south Texas ( 60 deg fahrenheit and light rain). I am installing a class A power amp to my audio system, drinking some stout English breakfast tea (thanks my Brit friends!) and looking forward to some Enya along with some good old Tom Petty.

...dam the torpedoes.........full speed ahead!

your friend in Texas

sco

*++++++++++&

Date: 15 Nov 2003 20:56:40 +0100

From: Nicole Carbonara

Subject: Sony UX50 replies

Koi Hin

>> Thanks to the persons who replied to my post on UX50 <<

I am the one!!!

>> It was smaller than I imagined, much smaller. <<

I had the same impression. It is really small and light, this is one of

the reasons that made me order it.

>> I had trouble with the keys, they were too small for me <<

I probably have smaller fingers than you. I love the touch of the keyboard.

Nicole

*++++++++++&

Date: 15 Nov 2003 22:49:00 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 381 (2)

Keith,

I had three of them and they had their good points. But they had their bad ones as well.

2 megs of memory and a card type (can't remember what now) that could either be purchased as Flash or RAM. The Flash cards were expensive (much more so than memory for the series 5) and you could write to them and read from them but you could not rewrite - had to reformat and start over. The RAM cards had a battery in them and were much more expensive than the Flash cards - you could rewrite on them.

As to ribbon cable, no problem as I remember, but I was shuttleing machines back to Psion USA for button bar repairs (the buttons were mechanical and the bar would come adrift on one end), and screen failure (ribbon cable failure after all?).

It was a rugged little machine that would survive most dropping (one grand episode involved dropping it two floors from a rooftop onto concrete - it survived with a small nick on the case edge). The files were smaller than the 5 and some functions were better than the 5. And the screen was much better than the 5 or the 5mx - as good or better than the Revo/Mako.

Would I buy a 3mx? Maybe out of nostalgia if the price were right, but otherwise, no. It's not a work machine.

jim

>I know nothing about the Series 3 as I came to Psion with an S5. The S3mx sounds as though it would be the perfect replacement for my 5mx(s) when

they crap out - I don't use the "surfing/email" functions at all. Maybe I should start looking for one. Does it have the ribbon cable problem? Can

you use a CF card? I assume one doesn't use PsiWin 2.3.3 with it, or do you? If not, does the S3mx PC program work with XP? Is the PC cable different from the 5/netBook? I also assume it operates on plain vanilla alkaline batteries.

>Happy Cycling,

>Keith

jim - written on and sent from a Dana with SnapperMail in Port Townsend

*++++++++++&

Date: 16 Nov 2003 07:24:50 +0100

From: ian chapple

Subject: Web browsers

Martin,

>> This observation, without knowing exactly which websites you refer to, seem to have more to do with Microsoft's anti-competitive measures; basically sabotage of non MS browsers. It has nothing to do with the complexity of the Website per se, unless they are using the Microsoft prorietary application server pages (ASP) features. Opera is growing to become the dominant wireless browser. I hope this is the case. This means that webmasters increasingly will be concerned with Opera compatibility than IE compatibility. With the increasing use of Linux also on the desktop, Opera might over time create a significant beachhead there as well. <<

I read recently that Microsoft, having cornered the web browser market, are stopping development of Internet Explorer; its functionality will be incorporated into the new version of Windows, due out in 2005. Where this leaves users having older versions of Windows, who will presumably no longer be able to update their browser, is anybody's guess.

Cheers, Ian.

*++++++++++&

Date: 16 Nov 2003 09:48:35 +0100

From: Chris S Handley

Subject: Re: no more freezing?

Hello all,

I was going to make a post on this subject, but I see some people have beaten me too it!

Yup, I have tested Han's Sink program, and despite his claim of it only being 95 percent successful, I have yet to experience a single freeze (touch wood!).

In fact, I was sufficiently impressed with it that I wrote a little Extras bar app to launch his Java Sink program, and an SIS to install it all. Hans will be using it for future releases of Sink, so that 'any idiot' (and everyone else;) can use Sink easily :-)

HOWEVER, the success of this marvelous little program should not detract us from trying to get Psion/Symbian to provide a patch to EPOC, because:

1. There is no guarantee how well Sink will cope with new Windows worm outbreaks (which are the cause of all our problems).

2. Needing to have the Java VM installed and permanently running is not ideal for our low-power low-memory Psion devices. Well, except perhaps for Netbooks with 64Mb of RAM! (yes, I am typing on one now:)

Regards,

Chris Handley

> From: Jack

> Googling comp.sis.psion.misc group, I read that Hans Lub:

&has produced Sink a little java app intended

> to prevent our machine freezing with some ISP. Anyone tested

> it?

*++++++++++&

Date: 16 Nov 2003 12:36:48 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Win-Netbook, Psion takeover,

Answer to: Terry Gordon

Re.: Win-Netbook - Ah, a pitty it was only the nB she was interested in .... <BG>.

Answer to: Darryl Kempster

Re. Psion takeover - First of all interesting to read that Nokia is still interested in heading off Microsoft instead of using their system (this was debated here a while back). Secondly, _if_ it was true, do you think they would tell the world and especially the press about it ? A confirmation would push up the share price of Psion way beyond what they now _might_ be considering to pay for the shares. It would not surprise me at all if they would move to buy out Psion. Now, whether or not to buy Psion shares ? I can't tell you.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

*++++++++++&

Date: 16 Nov 2003 14:06:57 +0100

From: Philip S. Adkins Potter

Subject: s(3a/c/mx)/Sink

Hi,

I want to buy an s3mx myself (try www.psionex.co.uk, no connection) which is a faster and re-designed s3c which itself is a slightly re-designed s3a (I have an s3a and an s3c). An ordinary "plain vanilla" s3 is their immediate predecessor (and I once had one of those too).

Apart from only having three grey scales the 3mx *ought* to be nearly as capable as the 5mx (as some 3cs and everything 3 before that had no backlight). One difference, though, is that the screen is not touch sensitive.

Unfortunately they take a dedicated (and expensive) design of RAM/Flash RAM card and the maximum seems to be 8MB Flash and 2MB RAM - they take 2 cards and they're known as S(olid)S(tate)D(isk)s. The Flash disks fill up and need periodic reformatting to reclaim space but the RAM SSDs don't. Some programs were supplied on ROM (or EPROM or suchlike) SSDs, I've been given a few, almost all games I don't play (but some I do). I've also got a 1MB RAM SSD, a 512KB Flash RAM SSD and a 4MB Flash RAM SSD.

The biggest machines have 2MB RAM, only some 3as and all 3s have less, but only 512KB at most is available as processor RAM, the rest as a RAM disk. The OS and built-in applications are in ROM. Like the 5/5mx they run on 2 AAs with a lithium cell, different to my 5mx, as backup. They're about the same size as a 5mx but lighter with a better hinge and a worse keyboard. The batteries last a *lot* longer, especially if you don't use/have the backlight.

My 3a ran for about 8 years without ever crashing so they're probably stable : • ) .

The power supply is different but it's only the 3/3as that have a different connector (the torpedo in the serial case) to the 5mx. The 3c/3mx uses an almost identical Honda connector to the 5mx but I wouldn't recommend using a POD connector with the power supply connected - maybe it'll be OK but I haven't tried it and I won't. For serial and parallel comms the same cables do.

There is a flat cable connecting the screen which I believe is far more reliable than the 5mx one. But any cable that flexes will break sooner or later (if you want to eliminate this kind of failure altogether then try a Palm).

There is also a dedicated modem for both the 3/3a and the 3c/3mx but the 3/3a one is only for eMail/Fax, I believe. They're both about half the size of the machine itself. I imagine the 3c/3mx one works with the 5mx but I haven't tried.

The 3a/c/mx are the nearest to the 5/5mx in concept and the Agendas are very similar (that's one of Psion's great strengths in my opinion). They also run a dedicated GUI called either EPOC 16 or SIBO.

There isn't a dedicated Contacts app but the Data program supports tone-dialling (I don't think the 3 does though) and it's default setup is as an Address Book. The 3c/3mx Data application is better than it's predecessors. The Time and World applications are separate and Time is designed to run continuously. The calculator is not as good on the 3c/3mx as on the 3a but there are free calculators that are better than either. OPL is similar, more restricted in some ways but with low-level access that ER3/4/5 OPL lacks (OPXs were to supply this lack). There are two eMail clients available, a web browser and lots of other software.

The Comms abilities are similar to the 5mx but they 'network' with the emulators (and probably eachother) well. The emulators don't (or didn't) run under Windoze but under DOS and take over the PC completely then.

But this memory limit isn't as severe as might seem - most program data files are small as are most program files. There are lots of third-party apps including some performing functions that aren't available on the 5mx. Everything in the OS and almost all apps are very tight - they make M's**t apps look soggy.

I used my 3a for years as my main non-hobby computer and my old 486/50 with a couple of Gigs hard disk space was often running as a Mega-Psion, I wrote a DOS based OPL IDE for it (using a sophisticated interactive batch file!). Because everything's so tight it's also very fast, especially considering the speed and size of the processor.

But they are 16 bit machines and some people don't like that - why, I don't know.

***

On my 5mx I now use Sink as my ISP states that the viruses Sink protects against are the responsibility *only* of those infected, anyone affected must be infected so they can go hang. It seems many ISPs feel the same.

Idiots.

But Sink works for me and works well. Until Hans Lub released it I had stopped using my 5mx on the web except for eMail and then I had to hope it wouldn't hang. Now I can use it for anything on the web and . . . well, it's as OK as it's ever been.

Even if your ISP has no problem it might and so please, if you can afford the space, download and install it (also install th Java Virtual Machine from the Psion CD as Sink needs it). You may never need it but . . . you may.

Sink works and that is wonderful.

So thanks Hans and Chris.

Happy days,

Phil.

"Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat,

populist, fascist, liberal, conservative and so forth - are

never basic criteria. The human race divides politically

into those who want people to be controlled and those who

have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from

the highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest

number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious

and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable

neighbours than the other sort."

*++++++++++&

Date: 16 Nov 2003 16:56:15 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: xbarsetN, nICQ, POS, souped-up Revo rumour, Symbian OS 7 netBook Pro, Backing up

Answer to: Keith Giles

Re.: xbarsetN - Thanks for that lead, I downloaded the macro again. However, when I do a soft reset on my S7 the extrabar stays as I had it and there is no need to reset all the programs to their desired places. I don't remember if that was different with the 5MX. If ever I need to do a hard reset however it would save me a lot of time. As all my macro's (together with most programs) are situated on the CD-card there would be no need for a reinstallation.

Answer to: Edgar Brazda

Re. nICQ - Yes, but how many people really use ICQ and how many use MSN messenger ? I suppose that ICQ is only a limited number of people. I actually never really understood how it works and what you need for it to communicate via ICQ, it is not a widespread well known system.

Answer to: Wong Koi Hin

Re. POS, souped-up Revo rumour - I don't think anyone can confirm it to you as yet. It was information from one of the experts working at POS with the remark to check their website regularly. I don't think it is imminent but mif it will happen more likely some time in 2004.

Answer to: Martin Maxwell

Re. Symbian OS 7 netBook Pro - You write in very technical language. What I understand is that on (1) it will be difficult to impossible to copy EPOC programs and data to the planned machine, on (2) is there somewhere a list or a website that will show us users which programs are available for Symbian OS 6 and 7 devices ?.

Having moved my diary and data files to a Sony CLie I can tell you that it is quite easy via Microsoft Outlook and with a comma separated file straight into the Data program (third party). The neighbour's garden is not nicer forme at all, I have used Psions for over 10 years and never looked at other devices. However the current models are outdated and lacking in functions that have become a necessity for some people. It is nice to have my Clie with me on a business trip and listen to some music (in good quality stereo) in the airplane or train, have a camera at hand in case I need to take photos of something (claims, products, shop layouts), etc. At the same time I type this at 10,000 feet on my S7. By the way, I don't think I called anyone "blind", I was only talking about myself.

Anyhow, I suggest we will wait and see what will come of the project and discuss it further when it will hopefully materialise.

To: All

Re. Backing up font files - I noted that when doing a back-up at the end the font files I installed are not backed up as they are open and the back-up program of Psiwin stops. I just answer not to retry and that's it, but is there a way around it to make it finish the back-up by itself ?