Epocdigest V1 # 452

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Epoc Digest Thu, 19 Feb 2004 Volume 01 : Number 452

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Sent to: 785 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 19 messages:

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- Re: PSION Leaving Symbian

- Not Recognising CF 451 (2)

- dangerous current # 451 (2)

- Mark Johns Cable # 451 (2)

- Re WinXP applications

- Future for Psion

- Re : win replacement

- Reply to Bob Grainger: Not Recognising CF Card

- Re: Russian dictionary

- Re: Oxford English dictionary

- Renewing the stock

- Re: Russian dictionary

- Re: Psion 5 Personal Dictionary

- Switching off the mBook

- Re: Russian dictionary

- Re: Ebook usurps

- Re: Psion 5 Personal Dictionary

- Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 449 (1)

- Re: Emulator questions

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

Date: 14 Feb 2004 23:03:42 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: PSION Leaving Symbian

AndyM wrote:-

> Alan - have you read the following article in the Register

> ? - it might give you some hope ;-) "Psion Looks Past

> Windows to Linux" at

> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/35504.html

Thanks for the URL Andy, I'll have a look. I jumped from DOS to EPOC as I have always found Windows so inefficient. It takes so much time in reboots etc. The automatic features of Windows is a real nuisance, when it keeps reconfiguring itself, not just the OS but in programs like Word.

I had considered jumping from DOS to Linux, but chose EPOC as it's computers were more portable. If I was younger then the challenge of Linux would be welcome, but I've rather outgrown that now.

It's OK talking about Linux on a Psion computer, but there are no new Psion computers to run Linux on!

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 18:38:42 +0000

From: vlad a

Subject: Not Recognising CF 451 (2)

> Epoc Digest wrote on 18.2.2004 18:42 Uhr:

> the ones that don't work in the Psion are all San Disk I have SanDisks and they do. They occasionally get corrupted (after switching several times between MX/Mac or if apps are active on the CF when you take it out). Just reformat and keep safety copies of anything important.

Hope this helps.

best,

vlad a

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Date: 18 Feb 2004 18:38:42 +0000

From: vlad a

Subject: dangerous current # 451 (2)

Thanks for the explanation! Good to know!

best,

vlad a

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 18:38:42 +0000

From: vlad a

Subject: Mark Johns Cable # 451 (2)

> Epoc Digest wrote on 18.2.2004 18:42 Uhr:

> Subject: Is this the dreaded cable problem?

... good to hear you have a second machine... looks like you'll need it...

My sympathy,

best

vlad a

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 19:33:14 +0000

From: John Wetton

Subject: Re WinXP applications

Hi Folks,

Peter asked about a replacement for Outlook. I asked this several years ago on the Digest and was pointed in the direction of The Bat! from Ritlabs. The Bat! lets you look at the mail on the server before choosing what to download. Their website is http://www.ritlabs.com/the_bat/.

More recently I have also found Poco Mail. This one I have only used the trial version of but I am planning on swapping over to it as soon as I have a few quid to spare. This is a much slicker email client than The Bat! in my opinion.

Another piece of software that I reckon is must have if you use Outlook is Email Remover. This application is great for when Outlook locks up and you suspect that it's because of huge attachment trying to get through - just cancel mail delivery in Outlook, close Outlook, establish an internet connection then fire up Email Remover, it will then poll the server and display all the message on it with details of who has sent the mail, its' size and subject. You can then choose which emails to delete off the server before trying Outlook again. I use this at work and it it has proved its worth time and again. It can be found at www.email-remover.com .

Has anyone found a calender application to replace that side of Outlook at all? Preferably one that will allow for straightforward import from Outlook.

Cheers,

John Wetton

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 19:46:05 +0000

From: Timothy H.D. Williams

Subject: Future for Psion

On 18 Feb 2004, at 13:44, Itamar wrote:

> They would further need a huge investment in marketing, advertising

> and promotion to make any impact with new machines in the USA market

> where they failed last time and where Palm reigns as king.

yet interestingly Roman Frotz informed us this morning of an article

> http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=14164

that says:

> So will dispensing with the need to pay royalties to Symbian save

> enough money to make Psion's new generation of robust mobile devices

> competitive? Potter claims his company will launch a sub-notebook by

> Q3 2004 and a handheld with a miniature keyboard shortly afterwards.

We can hope.

Best

Tim

Thought for the day:

ANECDOTE : a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or

biographical incident.

Webster's online,

http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary? book=Dictionary&va=anecdote

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 21:25:16 +0000

From: Jack

Subject: Re : win replacement

To Peter Rand

>>>.... is there a good freeware WinXP email client which can replace Outlook, or full-featured freeware/share replacements for Word and Internet Explorer? In particular, I'm looking for an email client that will let me look at all the mails waiting on the server (a la EPOC), ....<<<

1- Mailwasher, shareware (cheaper if for one mailbox only) allows to preview bodies without risk and quick deleting of spam

2- Abiword v2.03, freeware, powerful multi-formats word-editor with a plug-in for psiword converting.

3- Opera v7.03 = top browser (much better than epoc opera) + complete mail client.

4- best would be to free yourself from nasties, viruses, worms, horses, spies, adspyblasters, antiviruses, firewalls, security updates, warnings & patches, restores, blue screens... by using EPOC *only*!

Jack

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 22:01:36 +0000

From: Neville Smith

Subject: Reply to Bob Grainger: Not Recognising CF Card

Bob,

I had a CF card once that was not recognised in the Psion. I formatted it in a Canon digital camera and it never failed again.

My current problem is that the new 5mx will not recognise any card, even those which are still recognised by my old broken 5mx. I did manage to get it to read the title on a camera-formatted card, but only once, and I couldn't use that card. I'm thinking I may have a problem in the 5mx itself.

The cards thensolves are hardy things. I put a 20M Psion card through a full wash cycle once and it still works perfectly in the old 5mx.

Neville Smith

0408 959 123

emAlt em

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 22:36:28 +0000

From: Rolf Vonau

Subject: Re: Russian dictionary

Reference is made to the mail in the Epoc Digest V1 # 451 (9) :

Daniele Squarci wrote at 18.02 2004 (> ):

> month and will need some kind of phrase book as my

> Russian does extend beyond "da" and "vodka". Is

> there any available for the Psion? I googled

> around, but can only find Palm/PPC solutions.

Hi Daniel,

accordingly to a phrase book, I don't know. But I have the "DIC"-dictionary English-Russian (abt. 1000 words). The onlies difficulties for you will be perhaps: you have to know the cyrillic letters.

Let me know, if I should send you the dictionary.

Best Regards

Rolf

Munich

http://home.arcor.de/rhvonau/index.htm

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 23:39:37 +0000

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Re: Oxford English dictionary

Howdy!

Astrid Stappenbeck wrote (> ):

> Some time ago there was a discussion about the

> Oxford English dictionary. In TR format it was

> said to be over 8 MB (with no copy function).

It's 8487680 bytes.

> A MobiPocket version was also mentioned.

> I would like to add that it is available in K2

> format as well.

I've never heard of the K2 format (isn't that a mountain?). Is it possible to make your own K2 files? How about converting a TomeRaider file to K2?

> It is fast, you can copy from it

> and it takes up only 3,9 MB.

Any one know if this is the same version as the 8.1mb TomeRaider file, or is it an "abridged" one? Is there other usefull stuff in K2 format too?

On the same topic, I remember that when TomeRaider was updated to the newer TomeRaider 2 version, it "upgraded" all my TomeRaider files the first time I opened them. The thing is, I preferred the old version because that allowed copying.

Does anyone know if there is a way to "degrade" TomeRaider files to the old format (or maybe they'll work in TR 1.x without problems?). Failing that, anyone know where one might find TR files in the old format and where to find the old TR version. Maybe on an old Palmtop CD? Will my TomeRaider registration work with the old version?

Owen

Thought for the day:

If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; but if you really make them think they'll hate you.

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-928°14.86'N 16°50.54'W

Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands

http://home.no.net/naomij

Phone and SMS:

In Spain: +34 620520079

In Norway: +47 92053097

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 23:40:00 +0000

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Renewing the stock

Howdy!

Stephane Sage wrote (> ):

> To Owen: keep going, Owen, we appreciate yours

> footers (or just read further), even though you

> might renew yr stock sometimes

That's part of the reason I asked for help with making my randomness more random a while ago. Unfortunately, REM has not become any more random as I don't have any control over that. I'm sure Rolf will update the random routine when he releases the new version.

Owen

Thought for the day:

The fact that you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not out to get you!

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-928°14.86'N 16°50.54'W

Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 23:40:07 +0000

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Re: Russian dictionary

Howdy!

Daniele Squarci wrote (> ):

> I will be travelling to Russia next month

Sounds fun.

> and will need some kind of phrase book as my

> Russian does extend beyond "da" and "vodka". Is

> there any available for the Psion?

Berlitz Phrase Book does have Russian (but not with Russian characters.) I don't know where you'd find this software these days though. The "About" page says:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I must say I have not found all that much of use in Berlitz. It seems to assume that everyone travelling in a foreign country will be living in hotels, eating in restaurants, roasting in the sun and renting cars.

There's not much there about buying stores to cook your own food or getting computer bits, electronic components, spares for a boat or any of the other things I might need to communicate about. You know, simple little things like "Do you have a free berth for a 28 footer?, "Where is the harbourmaster's office?", "Is the anchorage safe?" or "Where can I fill up with diesel and fresh water?

Your life is probably totally different from mine, so maybe it'll serve you better... :o)

If you run out of petrol i Russia, just say:

"U menya zakonchilsya benzin"

Don't rent a diesel car, because the word diesel doesn't exist in Berlitz.

Owen

Thought for the day:

Every absurdity has a champion to defend it.

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-928°14.86'N 16°50.54'W

Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands

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

Date: 18 Feb 2004 23:40:14 +0000

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Re: Psion 5 Personal Dictionary

Howdy!

Anthony Ross wrote (> ):

> My personal dictionary seems to have "locked up".

There is a bug in the spell application that causes problems if the file grows over a certain size. I can't remember if it's a certain number of words or a certain number of bytes.It's simply a text file, so you can open and edit it or even create a new one in Editor or Word.

It starts with a one line header. Below that are your new words in alphabetical order on one line each and preceeded by a hash (#) character like in the following example.

#HEADER START#1#16#0#0#=#HEADER END#

#5mx

#ain't

#Ambrose

#anchorages

#animations

#Araldite

I don't know what numbers in the header mean, but editing the file and manually adding or removing words doesn't seem to cause any problems.

Owen

Thought for the day:

If your feet smell and your nose runs, you were built upside down.

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-928°14.86'N 16°50.54'W

Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands

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

Date: 19 Feb 2004 01:26:21 +0000

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Switching off the mBook

I notice that quite often the mBook does not switch off until I try several times. This happens both with the Fn-Esc as well as with the switch above the number keys. I closed all programs and it still occured so it is none of the programs I have open.

Has anyone got the same occurance ? It is dangerous as I think one time it did not switch of when I closed it and the next day I had to immediately recharge it.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 19 Feb 2004 02:17:25 +0000

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Russian dictionary

Hi Daniele,

> There has been some talk of dictionaries in the Digest lately. I will be travelling to Russia next month and will need some kind of phrase book as my Russian does extend beyond "da" and "vodka". Is there any available for the Psion? <

A I mentioned in the last digest there is a program called K2 and files for it on mypsion.

www.mypsion.ru/K2.php

www.mypsion.ru/base/k2

Among the listed files are a good many language files including a small Italian-Russian dictionary (I suppose that is what itru_small 54 kb means) and large English to/from Russian (enrubig 3.3 mb, ruenbig 2.2 mb). Plus other files (idioms e.g.)

To view it on your Psion you will need Russian fonts (the dictionaries are part Latin part Kyrillic). There are some links on the K2 program page, one Russian, the other to A. Zavorine.

http://geocities.com/zavorine/epoc/fontstore.htm

I think I once saw Russian fonts on the EBook site for download as well.

As you mention a phrase book: you could try the Berlitz Phrasebook which supports Russian, Italian and English among others. This however is commercial, came from Palmtop and might no longer be on offer. You won't need extra fonts though. (If you're interested and can't get hold of it ask me again)

Hope that helps,

Astrid

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

Date: 19 Feb 2004 02:17:27 +0000

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Ebook usurps

Hi Tim,

> I am finding that Ebook assumes that .txt files are his to open. Consequently a text file cannot be edited. Short of trashing Ebook, is there any way to open .txt files with the .txt reader? <

There are a couple of applications that let you choose the program which should take precedence: Macro5, Assistant, Extrabars... If you don't want a full blown program just to set this option than you can use plOpen - a small plugin that can stand alone as well and works well enough in the unregistered version.

You might consider installing Editor (a very small text-editor - 48kb) which would then be regarded as the native app.

Hope that helps,

Astrid

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

Date: 19 Feb 2004 02:17:30 +0000

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Psion 5 Personal Dictionary

Hi Anthony,

> My personal dictionary seems to have "locked up". When I try to add a word which is not in the main dic. the message "NO DICTIONARY ACTIVE" appears even though the "use personal dictionary" is ticked. Attempts to "show contents" elicit the message "NO SOLUTIONS FOUND". The dictionary can be found in System/Apps/Spell/User.dic and is size 8446. I have tried saving to backup D deleting and recopying - to no avail. HELP!!!!!!! <

Maybe that is to simple or already tried but after backing up and deleting have you created a new user dictionary before you copied the old one back?

Another idea - did you run CheckDisk to see if something is wrong with the file (and repair it)?

Good luck,

Astrid

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

Date: 19 Feb 2004 07:24:42 +0000

From: Greg Crayford

Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 449 (1)

on 17/2/04 5:02 AM, Antony Boothwrote:

> Why don't people post 'Thoughts for the day' on a thoughts for the day forum

> instead so people who want to read them can happily subscribe to it?

Jeez, dude. Lighten up.

I quite like these things. They¹re pretty harmless. And the odd one gives me

a nice belly laugh and/or something to share with those around me.

Greg Crayford

Wellington, NZ

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

Date: 19 Feb 2004 07:25:41 +0000

From: Christopher Marwood

Subject: Re: Emulator questions

Peter Rand was

<<looking for an email client that will let me look at all the mails waiting on the server (a la EPOC), so I can decide what to delete before I start downloading anything.>>

I would recommend Mailwasher which is free for access to one account and does exactly what you want (plus you can read messages directly from the server)

As far as I know there is no way of cutting and pasting between the emulator and the windows clipboard, which is a big shame.

Did anyone ever succeed in getting the opx s from Palmtop to allow Money to run on the emulator?