Epoc Digest Thu, 11 Mar 2004 Volume 01 : Number 470
Sent to: 785 subscribers
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 21:32:32 +0100
From: Will Green
Subject: Michael Kosari Data and Monopoly
For Michael Kosari. Could it be that the data program is at fault? Why not
try opening the data file in PsiDat or importing the file into Powerbase.
Another option might be to use PsiWin and convert the file to text delimited
and then importing it back into Data. Worth a go. Monopoly. I'm feeling very
rosey today as I've just got £9323.00 in Monopoly! I admit a preference to
EPOC over SIBO Monopoly, however either format this is my personal best.
Cheers, Will. ------------------ Sent with Instant Email from T-Mobile
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:13:40 +0100
From: vlad a
Subject: Apple iBook and 5mx # 469
> Dave P wrote on 10.3.2004 21:54 Uhr:
> backup and file transfer between the ibook and the 5mx?
The Psion is the Applest PC you'll ever see! After OSX, I'd say it's Appler
than Macs...
With a Virtual PC on the Mac you can backup over cable and run the complete
Psion emulation.
A more limited data exchange solution on the Mac is Ph. Galmel's Trafic
(shareware):
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/philippe.galmel/index_mac.html
It converts text in both directions and allows moving files around and also
backups. It has two modules, to be installed on Mac and Psion. The site is in
French, but the program comes in F, E, D.
I'd also recommend a USB-CFCard reader and a card you'll use *only* as
transfer-vehicle. You can backup to CF and exchange data accross a CF with
OS9 and X. Text transfer is easy (FiveToMac and MacToFive utility, or FM
Cleaner - both Mac applications). The problem here is a strange but rather
infrequent CF-card corruption (you "just" lose your data, not the card) which
occurs (in my experience) either
- as soon as you transfer Psion System data (so no backup-copying to/from the
Mac!)
or
- just so, once in a while, if you have switched the CF once too often
between platforms. With OSX (Unix-type) this problem might have disappeared.
I still have OS9 on my iMac so I don't know.
Search the digest archive for two or three longish threads about Macs,
data-transfer, CF-Corruption, one year or more ago. You'll also find some
other useful infos if you look for Mac or Apple.
Hope this helps. If you need more input, go ahead - there are a few
experienced Mac users here.
best,
vlad a
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:27:27 +0100
From: Timothy H.D. Williams
Subject: Apple ibook and 5mx
On 10 Mar 2004, at 16:54, Epoc Digest wrote:
> After a very confusing google / trawl through the net I wonder if > someone
here could advise me on practicality of connection, backup and > file
transfer between the ibook and the 5mx?
The fastest option is to buy a usb/cf card reader and transfer from cf card
to mac.
The three most important conversions for me are word, sheet and addresses.
Word and sheet I convert with nConvert on the Psion. Addresses I convert into
.vcf form and then export to Mac OS X's
address book. iContact on the mac reads exported Agenda files using a
freeware - can't remember which.
If you want to invest in a usb/serial converter, JavaPsion Link allows you to
connect your Psion to the mac. JPL is staple, fast and freeware.
Tim
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:28:32 +0100
From: Alan Morris
Subject: Re: Nokia 9500
Wong Koi Hin wrote:-
>>> Let's hope that it's a CF card.
> It seems like perhaps there are some who are interested in
> knowing more about the Nokia 9500 but is either unable to
> access Nokia's website or choose not to.
I've now had a look, but see that a long wait is required until at least
October (Q4).
> As you can see, it is MMC. I, however, am very happy it is
> NOT Sony memorystick or its variants. This has emerged as
> a strong contender for me personally as a successor device
> to my Revo. The other contender would be the Sharp SL C7xx
> series. Will have to wait till I try my hands on one
> before I make a final decision.
MMC, that's unfortunate Koi, but I agree about the Sony memorystick, even
though I've been a Sony fan for longer that a Psion fan.
Garmin, a major GPS supplier, have at last stopped using their own format
card and now use CF Type II slots. It's a pity that Nokia have not chosen
CF. Many on this Digest use CFs in Psions and digital cameras and I for one
would like to be able to use my large collection in a Nokia.
--
Alan R Morris, G4ENS.
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.
Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:32:46 +0100
From: Jim Watson-Gove
Subject: rre: MXpro Backup Battery help?
Subject: MXpro Backup Battery help?
<<lately, 90% of the times I open the 5MX, I have the small alarm saying
"change backup battery". It disappears after a few seconds. I checked the
status and it still is "good" at 3,01 V. Changing the main batteries doesn't
wipe out everything. I tried cleaning the contacts, moving the
cell.>>
Vlad,
I have had this problem on a number of 5s. The spring in the battery holder
is a slight bit weak. Two layers of a piece torn from a business card works.
It just lays over the battery and the cover slides back over the cardboard
holding it in place. At first I tried to jam the cardboard into the holder
area between the body of the 5 and the battery. This is not necessary as the
cover sliding in place provides the pressure to press the battery back into
proper contact.
On one machine I reached in and bent the spring metal up. This in not
necessary nor recommended, IMO.
jim - port townsend-wa-use
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:46:36 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Digest News - Thoughts
Dear All,
<< In the past few digests, there has been much heated discussion on this
topic. And some posts are beginning to get personal ... topic on "Thoughts"
has been covered enough now, so let's please move on and refrain from posting
any more messages on this subject >>
Having been away for a few weeks due to business travel I've read my backlog
of Digests with some amazement. I've always thought that the Digest doesn't
need a long list of rules and regulations because it's a friendly group
that's self-correcting (or self-regulating). The discussion on these
"thoughts for the day" shows that we can put some question marks behind the
friendliness and can delete the self-correcting bit. My conclusions are as
follows.
1) Don't complain when you really think that a certain practice is getting
out of hand. You're bound to tread on people's toes. Some have such long and
sensitive toes that they already growl at you when you only point at them. A
complaint will therefore result in you getting your head chewed off.
2) Don't post a message in support of the complaint as your head will be
chewed off as well.
3) Don't expect to get some assistance from the EPOC Digest Team. They're
more concerned with the style of the debate than the actual issue. Rather
than warning off those who overstep the boundaries of decent debate the
Digest Team simply shuts down the whole debate. Meaning that your complaint
is effectively thrown in the waste paper basket and those who have a valid
contribution to make can no longer do so.
4) Don't expect a debate that's shut down to be shut down as the Digest Team
doesn't reject messages on the subject. People can therefore happily call you
a "nasty, intolerant inquisitor" even though the instruction has gone out
that the debate is closed. The only thing the Digest Team might do is to add
the tagline that the writer is a naughty boy/girl.
5) Don't expect to be able to revive your complaint at a later date when
people have cooled down and come to their senses. The subject of your
complaint is now so tainted that there's no hope in hell of ever reviving it.
6) Add items (1) to (5) together and the tactic to get rid of a complaint you
dislike is to turn the debate into one the EPOC Digest Team doesn't approve
of. The debate is then shut down and the complaint is automatically off the
table. Saves you having to come up with well considered arguments and to win
the debate by force of argument.
--
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:46:42 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: GPRS aircard
Dear Donald,
Sorry for the delayed response due to travel and other business commitments.
<< Would you be able to explain this further - " When you've got one of the
older netBooks you'll need to check that the Aircard's maximum current draw
is less than 750 mA. " but I did come across a site
http://www.portal-pda.com/main.php3 that states the series 7 is capable of
running these cards - Do you know, or can this be explain how the series 7 is
capable of using this aircard that Psion Tecklogix say it can't be done? >>
Trouble is that the term "Aircard" is used is a more general fashion. Some
people call all GPRS and WiFi Ethernet cards aircards, irrespective of brand
or model.
Another reason could be the variable power consumption of GPRS cards. The
transmission power of the radio transmitter inside the card depends on the
distance between card and celltower. The longer the distance the higher the
power output of the transmitter. When somebody has tested the Aircard in a
built-up area there's a high chance that the distance between card and
celltower is a relatively short one. Radio output can then be sufficiently
low for the Aircard to draw less than 750 mA. Psion-Teklogix can't add the
provision that the card will work in a netBook when used in a built-up area.
The immediate question then is : What's a built-up area? Besides, the user
won't know which celltower the card's in contact with and what the distance
between them is. Could be that you've only to walk 50 meters for the
connection to be handed over to a different celltower within the same area
without the user being aware of it. The only thing Psion-Teklogix can do is
to make sure that the netBook/card combination works in all conditions. Also
when you're at the edge of GPRS network's coverage and are dealing with the
maximum distance between card and celltower.
<< Do you think damage can occur to the netbooks board if I'm using this
aircard or wifi card, if the PCB is not suited to handle this speed? >>
You won't damage it as such cards don't draw such a high current that
components will burn out. What happens is that the current draw has a
negative effect on the power supplied to other components. When their supply
voltage drops too low their operation becomes erratic, resulting in an
unstable system. The netBook can become very slow in responding to (user)
input/actions as if it's running on treacle. Could also be that the netBook
simply freezes. Needless to say that instability can result in a system crash
and the loss of data.
Speed won't be a problem as that's determined by the maximum transmission
speed between card and netBook and card and (GPRS/WiFi) network. When the
speed between card and network is higher than that between card and netBook
the latter will act as the bottleneck. The card will signal to the network to
temporarily suspend data transmission so that the card has the time to
offload the data it has already received to the netBook. What this action has
finished, the card will signal that network can resume data transmission.
That is, until another temporary suspension is called for. In other words,
the card will act as a kind of data traffic light.
<< I did just happen to meet with a gentleman that lives in New York and is
currently using a wifi card with his netbook that happens to be older than
mine, It was amazing but, I still want complete true wireless anywhere for my
travels and sales with greater speeds >>
That's not really amazing as the maximum current GPRS and WiFi cards draw
does vary. These cards draw power from the battery of the netBook (or laptop
or other) and one of the design aims is to reduce power consumption. The less
power the card consumes the more hours the user can work with his/her mobile
computer. Result is that new chipsets and cards are introduced with a lower
power consumption than previous versions. Buy one of these cards and there's
the chance that it works very well in any netBook as it draws less than the
750 mA all netBooks can supply.
When you can't get information on the maximum current draw of the T-Mobile
GPRS Aircard you can buy one from a dealer under the provision that you're
allowed to return it and are refunded when the card doesn't work in your
netBook.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:46:44 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Potter, Psion, Linux, things are going to change
Arent,
<< indeed Psion has now completely divested itself from both Symbos 16 as
well as Symbos 32 and is now a *CE-only shop ... >>
You're making exactly the same factual errors as before, despite the
corrections you've received many times. Two additional factual errors can be
added to the list as a result of you pigheadedly holding on to old errors in
a new situation.
<< My estimated guess is that Nokia is in a position to completely close off
the native ( C++/OPL ) API's leaving Java as the only option for third-party
applications >>
Symbian no longer supports OPL and has placed in in the public domain so that
others can take care of it. This has actually happened and OPL can be used to
develop for Nokia's Series 60 and Series 80 platforms. The most recent
addition has been OPL for the SonyEricsson P800 and P900.
As for C++, what you propose is completely silly as C++ is used for
development by the Symbian partners and licensees. In other words, all the
APIs need to be present for the likes of BenQ, Siemens and Fujitsu to
customise Symbian OS and its applications. These APIs are then automatically
available for third-party development.
Besides, it would be a blunder of the first order for Nokia to close off
third-party C++ API access. One of the largest add-on application markets for
smartphones is the games market. Successful PC based games can be ported to
Symbian OS based smartphones. Think of the first edition of the Tomb Raider
game that has been ported to the Nokia n-Gage. These games tend to be written
in C and/or C++ for speed. Nokia would be shooting itself in the feet when it
would block third-party C++ development.
<< This is now already happening with their 3G offerings such as the 6650
and the 7600 >>
This is the same error as made before. It simply doesn't do to treat all
Nokia phones as if they're the same. The Nokia mobile phone purchaser isn't
an identikit clone demanding exactly the same features and functionality.
Nokia therefore creates mobile phones for the various subgroups (or
subcultures) of mobile phone user. What Nokia builds into a phone like the
7600 should therefore *never* be used as an indicator for Nokia's development
of other models.
<< Smartphones with open Symbian will remain available for years to come but
eventually supplies will dry up and people have to move to other platforms...
>>
Which is the same baseless nonsense we've heard many times before from you.
You predicted that there would be no successor to the Nokia 9210(i)
Communicator. Despite having been quoted an interview with Anssi Vanjoki
(Executive Vice President of Nokia Mobile Phones) in which Vanjoki says there
will be a new Communicator. And the new Communicator is, indeed, there - the
Nokia 9500. You said the same about the Nokia 7650 being the last of its
kind. Guess what, the 7650 was succeeded by the 6600. Then it was the P800
which would be SonyEricsson's last Symbian OS phone. Well, the P800's
successor, the SonyEricsson P900, has been in the shops for some time now.
Given your abysmal success rate it's extremely foolish to continue with your
"Last of the line - supplies will dry up" mantra in the hope that it will
come true one day.
<< .. unless MicroSoft successfully exerts its intellectual property rights
on key parts of the OS >>
Which is a statement you've been posting for well over a year without ever
supplying the evidence to support it.
<< Unlikely , they have to work hard to bring *CE on par with Symbian 16/32
as used in the "old" Risc-based models ... >>
What nonsense!. The old 16-bit EPOC, now called SIBO, operating system never
ran on RISC processors. RISC processors (to an ARM design) were introduced
together with 32-bit EPOC, now called Symbian OS. Besides, Psion-Teklogix
doesn't operate in the consumer market and its products (whether SIBO,
Symbian OS or ce.Net based) don't have to brought to exactly the same level
of functionality.
<< The market niche for a pocketable keyboarded machine has now been taken up
by Sony with the PEG-UX and Sharp with the SL-B and SL-C models , not to
mention the RIM Blackberry ... >>
This underlines your abysmal understanding of the market and market segments.
The RIM Blackberry doesn't compete with the Sony PEG-UX40/50 as it's built
with a different purpose in mind.
<< A bigger threat to the PDA/smartphone will be the ultrapersonal computer
... >>
Which is based on the same inability to distinguish market segmentation. Each
and every mobile device (whether PDA, smartphone or ultraportable PC) is
thrown on a big pile and treated as if they're the same type of device for
the same type of user.
Final conclusion : When's the time you're going to learn, boy??
--
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:46:46 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Nokia 9500 ( 4 slitchfield,martin and kevinthorne ) - Walkabout
with Gates
Arent,
<< At EUR 800 this is likely to kill off devices like Sharp's SL-C series and
Sony's PEG - UX models as the size is smaller , the functionality is greater
and battery life probably better ... >>
This was posted on the 7th of March. While you posted on the 21st of February
that:
[Quote]
The market niche for a pocketable keyboarded machine has now been taken up by
Sony with the PEG-UX and Sharp with the SL-B and SL-C models , not to mention
the RIM Blackberry...
[Unquote]
In other words, it only takes 15 days and a single new device for you to
change your outlook completely. Devices supposed to rule a market segment are
suddenly relegated to the scrap heap. As if the reasons for Sony and Sharp to
create these devices, and for consumers to buy them, have evaporated now that
Nokia has launched its 9500 Communicator.
<< My guess is that this one will last at least 3-4 years and that the next
iteration will be a laptop-killer device >>
Oh Sure!! You've long claimed that there would be no successor to the Nokia
9210(i). Now that the Nokia 9500 is here it suddenly has a commercial
lifetime of 3 to 4 years. We've only to wait for Sony, HP, RIM, PalmOne or
Sharp to launch a new device for Arent Kits van Heijningen to change tack
once more. The Nokia 9500 Communicator will then be judged an unimportant
"also-ran" in a market taken over by the new device.
Sorry guy, you've now posted so many "Device X will kill off Device Y"
statements that your credibility rating is zero point zero. Given the dismal
success rate of previous predictions/statements you should know better by
now. You've got so much egg on your face - sufficient to prepare omelettes
for a whole army regiment.
<< How about a version for Series 45/60 phones and 9210/9500 ? >>
How is Marcus supposed to develop a version of SmtpAuth for Series 40 devices
running Nokia's own operating system, user interface and applications? What's
more, how is SmtpAuth supposed to be of benefit for a range of Nokia mobile
phones supporting SMS and MMS but not E-mail?
Sorry guy, you're once more proving the 'mathematical' equation of
Arent Kits van Heijningen = Blunder after blunder after blunder
... to be true.
--
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
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Date: 10 Mar 2004 22:46:48 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Psion software site
Dear Astrid,
<< The UK site tells that the software part of the company has been sold to
another company and offers a link but that doesn't lead to the formerly
available files ... Maybe it's possible to persuade Psion to keep the
services and continue to offer the files for download. The software division
sale shouldn't be a problem if all concerned were applying common sense since
it wouldn't cut into the business of the new owner >>
It always surprises me that the interest in Psion hardware and applications
is rarely matched by an interest in the company, it's divisions, their
activities and what they supply. Otherwise you would have known that the
Psion Software you refer to has nothing to do with such (boxed) software
titles as Psion Money, Monopoly, Presentation Maker or Allegro.
For your information, Psion Software was founded in early 1996 for the
development and sale of the (then unfinished) new 32-bit operating system
currently known as Symbian OS. The operating system as well as the people who
worked for Psion Software were previously part of Psion Computers. Reason for
the separation between hardware and software divisions was the aim to license
the 32-bit operating system to third parties. Psion Computers was, of course,
the first licensee with Dutch electronics giant Philips and a small start-up
company called Geofox to follow.
Psion Software also attracted the interest of mobile phone companies Nokia,
Ericsson and Motorola. They wanted to be more than mere licensees, also
because the operating system required a cash injection to pay for making it
ready for use in smartphones and communicators. Symbian Ltd. was founded as a
result, being a joint venture between Psion Plc (the holding company), Nokia
OY and LM Ericsson AB. Motorola Inc. joined the three after a few months.
Practical situation was that Psion Software effectively became Symbian Ltd.
with developers and other people from Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson (as well
as newly hired personnel) joining the company.
Question is whether Psion Software still existed after the founding of
Symbian as an on-paper company without personnel or assets. Fact is that
Psion Plc re-established Psion Software for the development of corporate
applications for the mobile device market. It subsequently launched the
Transcend Mail application at the Symbian Exposium in 2003. Below a
description from an IT Analysis article on Transcend Mail.
[Quote]
It's a software solution for email, contacts and calendar management that's
been designed for mass rollout to all types of employees across an
enterprise. Essentially it exploits an always-on connection via a GPRS
network to keep the corporate PC desktop and mobile phone in sync, without
the user having to explicitly perform a synchronisation. Psion Software have
also made the fallibility of the network connection invisible. If you loose
signal, or even roam from one provider to another, mid use, the software
picks up when and where it can without requiring user intervention, and keeps
the data in sync.
[Unquote]
I trust this explains why Psion Software wasn't responsible for Psion Money
and other titles as it was first responsible for 'our' EPOC and later for
corporate data integration tools. These applications were the responsibility
of Psion Computers who commissioned them from such software developers as
Purple Software and Atelier. They were launched by Psion Computers in order
to support its Series 5 handheld computer. When Psion Computers ceased
trading it not only meant that the Series 5mx, Revo Plus and Series 7 were no
longer developed further. The same applied to Psion Money and the other
software titles. The company promised that it would support its products up
to January 1st, 2004. As it's March 10th at the moment of writing it's not
surprising that all references to Psion Money, Allegro, etc. are starting to
disappear for Psion websites.
It's therefore no use asking Psion "to keep the services and continue to
offer the files for download". The company has kept its promise and has given
us a period of roughly 2.5 years to make the switch from (say) a Series 5mx
to another PDA or handheld computer by a different manufacturer. A transition
period that's much longer than the ones offered by many computer
manufacturers. General rule is that supply and support dries up within a
year. Try to get a spare battery pack for a laptop that was taken out of
production nine months ago. High chance it's no longer on the parts list and
hence no longer on stock.
<< But then it is probably quite a big IF - when you think about past
software struggles with Psion (colour Monopoly, 5mx and POS...) >>
Aren't you piling up small grumbles in order to create a big one? And what
has POS to do with software, let alone Psion Software? Paul Pinnock worked
for Psion Computers in the '80s and started his own business, Pinnock
Organiser Services, with Psion's blessing in 1995. POS is an approved Psion
Service Centre and can do all the repair jobs Psion's own service centre
could do. I therefore don't see what POS has to do with whatever "software
struggle" you refer to.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 11 Mar 2004 02:11:32 +0100
From: Euan Mee
Subject: Re: UIDs
n 10 Mar 2004 21:54's Epoc Digest, Anthony Booth wrote: > A while back, I
developed some OPL applications and as they were for > commercial
distribution, I requested UIDs. I was assigned multiple UIDs, > but did not
use them all. I am now considering further development
> projects, but do not wish to 'waste' the UIDs I have not used, but cannot >
remember how many were assigned. I know I can contact Symbian, but was
> wondering if there is a public database showing who has what? This may be >
a useful list of contacts for software & their developers. Again, I
> suppose i could just ask Symbian, but I was wondering if other developers >
had come across a database and whether they found it useful?
I just kept the UIDs I received in a spreadsheet in my Psion...
Cheers,
Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net
------- End of forwarded message -------
Cheers,
Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net
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