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Date: 14 Jul 2003 07:11:03 -0600

From: Andrew Gregory

Subject: Re: EBook and ExtraBars colour icons

> From: David Lir

>

> So what's the secret? How did Andrew fix the problem with these two > AIF's? An inquiring mind wants to know!

I reverse-engineered the AIF file format, then wrote code to take a sequence of MBMs to replace those already in an AIF file while leaving everything else in the AIF file intact.

--

Andrew Gregory,

<URL:http://www.scsoftware.com.au/family/andrew/>

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 08:04:39 -0600

From: Tsangshu Kuo

Subject: Ranting on keyboards & infrared connection with Win XP

Hi fellow subscribers,

After some thinking I have the following thoughts that I wish to share. The keyboard is a necessity for serious work on PDAs; however, the keyboard on the 5/mx and revo are a bit small to touch-type comfortably. Unfortunately, I think they are too big to thumb-type effectively as well. Personally, after using my Palm with a nearly full size foldable keyboard, I find it to be much more pleasant to use, albeit having to carry two things now (PDA & keybaord). But the Palm OS is simply too lacking and Microsoft Pocket PC too slow and clumsy. After a bit of reflection on my usage I believe device similar to Palm Tungsten C would be good for me, with a usable thumb keyboard and the ability to attach full size foldable keyboard when necessary. Although I still too pampered with the stability of flexibility of Symbian OS. I think most of us realize that Symbian (i.e. Psion) is now specializing itself into a mobile communication device (i.e. phones) specific OS, and we'll eventually have to find a suitable replacement when that time comes. Thanks for reading my ranting! I feel so guilty that after having been a lurker for so long the second thing I post is actually quite useless. By the way, I have successfully connected my Series 5 with Windows XP machine via USB infrared adapter. Anybody looking into that possibility feel free to email me off the Digest

Tsangshu Kuo

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 09:44:33 -0600

From: Arent Kits van Heijningen

Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 299 (370) : Pos Psion : Re: In memoriammodem :"budget"netBook , After Psion : Corrupted CF - query :Re.nB petition & *.CE(4 Itamar)

EPOC DIGEST V1 # 299 (370) : Pos Psion : Re: In memoriam modem :"budget"netBook , After Psion : Corrupted CF - query :Re. nB petition & *.CE(4 Itamar)

On 10 Jul 2003 23:41:22 -0600 ,

Timothy H.D. Williams wrote about :

Pos Psion

>>We've been hearing rumours like this for a long time.<<

The S3MX Clamshell is again in production as is the Workabout version

I am very sceptical about new production runs for the s5mx , because of

complicated intellectual property issues ( in fact the s3mx was developed as

a hedge in the case Psion had to drop EPOC 32 as a non-embedded environment )

in the GUI as well in the API department ( MicroSoft )

>>However, from what I can gather from this list, the ER5 doesn't have much

of a future because of the lack of drivers for peripherals.<<

"Smart" peripherals , based on PocketPC/Smartphone or USF PC technologies are

the answer here

Examples are CD-RW drives with build-in card readers , camera phones

>>What sort of market can there be for an updated Psion machine with a dated

OS?

(Personally, I'd buy it like a shot!!)<<

In combination with "smart" devices it can be pretty useful , if POS can get

the onboard file conversion issue sorted out , I think that there is a

substantial market for it

On 11 Jul 2003 08:07:08 -0600 ,

Keith Clarke wrote about

Re: In memoriam modem

>>I was interested in your comment on the Robotics ports. It was the port

coming loose which lead to the death of my travel modem, probably as a result

of packing the thing without first disconnecting the cable. Another mistake

to learn from.>>

For this reason and to nip this problem in the bud , I secured all ports on

my USRobotics' modems with superglue , before they had a chance to work loose

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

Making an USRobotics Sportster/ Courier modem fit for the road

Sportster Classic :

1 Opening the case :

Remove the two screws on the bottom  near the front side

2 Lift off the top of the case

3 Now you can lift out the PCB , hold it at the edges only

4 Apply ( sparingly) superglue along the edges of the phone , power and

RS-232 ports where they rest on the PCB

It is better to apply a second time after the first coat has dried than

trying to apply all at once

Reassemble in reverse order ( after the glue has dried )

USRobotics Courier :

Making this one fit for the road and opening this one is a bit more

complicated ,

1 Move the two rubber feet nearest the back panel to locations nearer the

back panel , in fact they cover the screws and by moving them to blank spots

there is less risk of losing them

now remove the handle from the volume control slider as well as the two

screws

Take off the bottom cover by gently lifting it at the back side , take care of

the tabs that go into the top half of the case

For applying the superglue see the above ,I recommend to apply it on the

three tabs of the speaker grill that rest on the PCB

Assemble in reverse order

On  11 Jul 2003 13:42:44 -0600

Itamar Engelsman wrote about :

"budget"netBook ,  After Psion,

>>Kits , Re. "budget"netBook  - But my question still stands, do you think it is

realistic in light of the developments within Psion/Tek. and the EPOC OS ?<<

You are right here , the proposal was for a *.CE-based model with a CPU

compatible to the one in the ER 5 machines and capable to load/run a nB or

5mxpro OS image and at a price point smaller businesses can afford

At the moment both PocketPC and the USF PC are taking a lot of air from the

large form factor PDA market

>>Re. After Psion - Yes, a problem that has come up before on the digest.

First thanks for the info about POS, I wonder whether they will really

produce more 5MX machines again. Maybe the demand is that strong and maybe

they will use the new screencable which will make this question a more

"futuristic" one.<<

Restarting production of the 5mx will be more difficult than the 3mx ( the

clamshell version  of wich is again in production  , the workabout never was

out of production )

as - unlike the s3 - Psion did not own all the IP with respect to the

operating environment ( MicroSoft owns substantial parts of the technology

that went in ER 3,4, and  5 )

>>Recently the Dana was also introduced, but it went quiet about that machine

on the digest. Any update anyone on that machine ?<<

There were serious issues with the current model , that and the total absence

of onboard file conversion brought me to the decision to send the loaner back

to Dirk

An improved version is in the works with embedded WiFi as well as full SDIO

support and support for bidirectional serial devices (a.k.a modems )  on the

upstream USB port is in the works

On 11 Jul 2003 21:05:05 -0600

Astrid  Stappenbeck wrote about 

Corrupted CF - query

Good idea to gather more info on this issue , personally I suspect this is

both a card issue and a Psion hardware issue

Epoc does not have embedded uitilities to check and repair filesystems

residing on removable storage like PalmOs and the *.CE environments

On 12 Jul 2003 10:53:30 -0600

David Lir wrote about

Re. nB petition & *.CE (4 Itamar)

>> I decided to NOT sign the petition (boo, hiss) because I honestly don't

feel it's in Psion's best interest to divert sales away from their new OS of

choice. That the petition will have no impact on Psion's decision is, IMO, a

given. Still, having said all of that I hope the petition succeeds :).<<

Hopes that Symbian/Epoc survives as a standalone environment have been dealt

a fatal blow with the decision by the ILECS to move to *.CE-based phones and

.NET/Java as the application environment

The Epoc-based smartphone is now at a point just before Psion decided to can

further development of its Epoc 32 line , it is likely that the Siemens SX1 ,

Nokia 6600 and Ericsson P810 will be the end of the line

>>I agree. Also, there are already nB alternatives out there. Not as good in

many ways perhaps, but certainly more than just workable. Personally, I could

survive with either the new Dana Wireless (Palm OS) or the new MobilePro 900 (WinCE).<<

Personally I think the nBPro is a better choice here than the PB EasyMate/Nec

MobilePro 900 because of support issues ( lack of community support , never a

chance to run Epoc , questionable( passive matrix STN ) and small screen ,

not available in stores / through local resellers

>> AAMOF, I plan to pick up a Dana at some point for my daughter -- instead

of another MnetBook for the simple reasons that it can run on AA's, is even

simpler to use and is of even more durable construction than the nB.<<

If you go Dana , get the new model with embedded wireless and SDIO support

The gotchas with Dana :

No onboard file conversion , depends on Pc or VirtualPC on Mac for that , no

direct file exchange with Psion , with PocketPc direct file exchange possible

under Linux(SHARP) an Palmos 5 (Sony Clie NX/NZ/TG and Palm Tungsten C )

Card format different from Epoc !

The keyboard is superb and the screen a revelation for older eyes

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

Date: 14 Jul 2003 11:35:39 -0600

From: Mike Fellhauer

Subject: Re: What is a CRV3 Camera battery? OT

>From: Owen H. Morgan >Subject: What is a CRV3 Camera battery? OT

>

>I've been reading digital photography magazines and have noticed that in >some cases, reviewed cameras are described as being able to use one CRV3 or >two AA batteries. From this I would guess that the CRV3 must be a >rechargeable 3V battery designed to fit in the same space as two AA's.

>

>What I'd like to know is whether I can use this battery in my Fuji FinePix >4700z (which takes two AA's), whether there'd be any benefit to doing so >and whether it's possible to buy the CRV3 with a charger to charge it >outside the camera as my Fuji doesn't have a built in charging circuit.

>

>To put this slightly on topic for the list: Would this battery be a useful >option for future palmtops?

The CR-V3 is a NON-Rechargeable lithium battery used mostly in Olympus digital cameras.  You could find lots of info if you had typed in "CR-V3" into Google.com.  The device's battery contacts and the battery compartment have to be specially designed to use these batteries.  The reason why someone would want to use these batteries instead of NiMHs is to have power for cold weather shooting or long term storage as they don't self-drain quickly like NiMHs do and Alkalines are useless in digital cameras anyway. 

Here's a link to a picture:

http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/images/010807-0.jpg

According to Steve's Digicams, your camera can only use AAs (there's no option to use one of these lithiums).  Although there's nothing stopping you from using an external rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.  You should ask in the Fuji forum at http://www.stevesforums.com/ for more info.  You may also look into getting AA lithiums (again non-rechargeable)...these are lithiums designed to operate at 1.5v (lithium is normally 3v).

As for PDA use (to get this back on topic), I can't really see someone paying the cost for these disposible batteries for PDA use.  The weather where these batteries would really perform would be too cold for the Psion to operate in. ;-)

Mike - Secretary of the Psion Enthusiasts Association of Toronto (PEAT)

http://www.phaedrav.com/peat/

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 12:07:57 -0600

From: Mike Fellhauer

Subject: Re: Revo Battery Access

>From: Christopher Gharibo >Subject: Revo Plus Battery Access

>

>Can anyone please point me to a site on the internet that tells me how to >access the battery compartment on the Revo Plus?

>

>Pictures would be great!

Portal PDA has several guides on taking the Revo apart,

http://www.portal-pda.com/main.php3

Mike - Secretary of the Psion Enthusiasts Association of Toronto

http://www.phaedrav.com/peat/

_________________________________________________________________

Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. 

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

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

Date: 14 Jul 2003 13:14:53 -0600

From: Michael Przondzion

Subject: Re: Revo Plus Battery Access

Hi Chris!

Here are some URLs I collected to the Revo (Plus) Battery incl. pictures:

Portal-PDA - Into the Heart of the Revo

http://www.portal-pda.com/guides/insiderevo/insiderevo.html

Portal-PDA - Dismantaling the Revo's Battery Compartment

http://www.portal-pda.com/guides/battcasing/battcasing.html

AKAEV'S REVO INSIDE

http://psion.by.ru/psioninside/revoinside/index.htm

Hope that helps!

Kind regards,

Michael Przondzion

Christopher Gharibo wrote in EPOC DIGEST V1 # 299 (477):

> Can anyone please point me to a site on the internet that tells me how to > access the battery compartment on the Revo Plus?

>

> Pictures would be great!

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 14:03:24 -0600

From: Trygve Henriksen

Subject: Updated S5mx, CRV3 batteries, Word crash

Greetings!

Timothy H.D. Williams wrote:

>> Incidentally, the guy in POS was saying that they've got manufacturing

>> rights for the Series 3, and are within a few weeks of tying up a deal

>> with Psion's lawyers to start building a slightly updated 5mx.

> We've been hearing rumours like this for a long time.

> However, from what I can gather from this list, the ER5 doesn't have

> much of a future because of the lack of drivers for peripherals.

Who knows what the updates are?

If they've changed the CF port to accept a broader range of accessories, and added a few drivers it could change a lot.

As for the manufacturing right to the S3, that sounds intriguing...

---

Owen H. Morgan wrote:

> I've been reading digital photography magazines and have noticed that

> in some cases, reviewed cameras are described as being able to use

> one CRV3 or two AA batteries. From this I would guess that the

> CRV3 must be a rechargeable 3V battery

Wrong...

It's Lithium, not Li-ion, and is not rechargeable.

The only people who have a real use for them are press photographers who don't want to change batteries during a photo shoot....

(And yes, they are the same size and shape as two AA's side by sisde, but with a flat side)

> To put this slightly on topic for the list: Would this battery be a useful

> option for future palmtops?

No...

Too lumpy, even if they would be able to power some types like Palm's for quite a long time.

(And being bl**dy expensive doesn't help, either)

-----

David Lir wrote:

> I copy/pasted a bit of text from Email into a text (Editor) file and then

> into a new Word file and a bit later while editing the new file Word

> crashed with the following error:

> Program: Word

> Reason code: E32User-CBase

> Reason number 21

There's a known bug in word that makes it crash if there are more than a certain number of 'styles' in use.

Personally I never use more than 5 or 6, just to be on the safe side...

Having a 200page document crash would NOT be fun, so....

:-)

Trygve

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 16:54:21 -0600

From: Howard weissman

Subject: POS Question

I am thinking of sending a 5MX to POS for repair and was wondering if the American version can be handled, or would repair with an European version.

It requires checking for a H2O input (groan)

Howard

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 20:17:25 -0600

From: Jan R Gustafsson

Subject: Re: netBook batteries and Swedish

On Jul 11 2003 Arent K wrote in answer to

Alan Morris

Subject: Re: netBook batteries

>>'ve got two Polyamp AB devices made in Sweden.  10-30vdc input with two 24v ....<<

<<Currently this powers my modems , the s5mx , my HP680LX , a radio and a small LCD telly as well as a 5 Watt fluorescent nightlight

Saved me ( at the time , we're talking mid-80's here ) a bunch of wall warts and it was/is  a huge space/weight saver as well

I happen to know their Verkstaellande Direktoer ( Jan R Gustafsson , can you chime in here and explain ?) at that time , Mr Alf Ostlund , wich even helped me in customizing the units for this particular need >>

Sure. "Verkstaellande Direktoer" means Managing Director. If you would like help to find the company/contact, mail me off Digest.

Regards,

Jan G

Stockholm, Sweden

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 20:47:40 -0600

From: Radek Brunner

Subject: RMR Contact

Hi all,

how can I paste original contacts from netBook to rmrcontact? How can I export contacts database to psion data format?

Thanks

Radek

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 20:49:22 -0600

From: Jan R Gustafsson

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Psion / S-E T610

koihin wrote at 12 Jul 2003 01:43:12 -0600 in EPOC DIGEST V1 # 299 (5)

<< I am able to edit the calendar entries beamed from

my MnetBook. Its curious that it should not work on your MC218.

...

> The sequence is as follows:

> > * < < * < *

>>

Thanks for the sequence, I'll try it.

But then, maybe there is a misunderstanding here. By Calendar Note I mean the Word object you can attach to an entry in Calendar on the Psion/MC218. Can you really edit such a Note on the T610 when beamed to the T610?

I like to carry on this conversation, but I suggest we do it off Digest.

Regards,

Jan G

Stockholm, Sweden

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 21:18:54 -0600

From: Korbinian

Subject: Re: eMail-app folders

Hi  Stephan

> It is possible to download emails directly into

> any folder you wish. In the remote mailbox folder

> select the mails to download, press Ctrl+C (or

> Ctrl+X), go to the destination folder, then press

> Ctrl+V.

Yes, that's are nice feature, but nevertheless some automatic mechansim like filtering or at least the possibility to choose in which folder the romote mails would be normaly copied/moved would be very nice!

But sadly there aren't these features and we will probably never get them.

(Although I really want to believe the rumour about the new version von Serie 5mx from www.pos-ltd.com, but... )

regards

Korbinian

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 21:29:22 -0600

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Pos Psion, CRV3 Camera battery, US ROBOTIC modem,

Answer to: Timothy H.D. Williams

Re.: Pos Psion - Well, you can never please all, but surely there is a huge market out there that uses palmtops without all the peripherals but still want a decent keyboard together with mobillity. I use a modem card with my S7, but otherwise no peripherals either. With ADSL at home and work now the connection is sooooo fast that the few minutes connection to the PC do not disturb me from afterwards using the S7 wherever I want to. In the end the OS is not that important whether it is old or not, as long as it does what you need it to do.

Answer to: Owen H. Morgan

Re. CRV3 Camera battery - No, it is not a replacement for the AA batteries. These camera's (for example the Fuji S2) have both battery types on board, with each type giving power to different functions. You can't use them for anything else.

Answer to: Andy Hayes

Re. US ROBOTIC modem - In the past I used one of these modems with a psion, and they are extremely difficult to use. You need to enter the exact correct init string otherwise it will not work. At the time I gave up on it and bought a different one.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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Date: 14 Jul 2003 21:57:29 -0600

From: Kevin Thorne

Subject: Printing from 9210, piggybacking chips

Reply to Randal Mc Laughlin:

Subject: Re: printing from 9210

<I print from my 9290 to my Citizen PN60i.  It's great for text.  I don't think it would work for graphics.  I just use black & white.  It's a great, great combination !  I think the printer drivers are much better in the 9290 as compared to my Psion 5.  I would recommend the PN60i.  I don't know if it is still available through Citizen USA or from a discount supplier. I think it is a discountinued model.>

Thanks for confirming this, Randal.  But I'm still curious.  I've had my Canon BJ-10sx for more years than I care to remember (and I'm still using it today) but here's the history of using it with my Psions:

With a S3 Classic, 3a and 3c it worked very well indeed, using the parallel printer link from Psion.  Then came the S5 Classic - oh dear, not so good.  Same with the 5mx, not so good but by that time Andrew Johnson's improved ER5 printer drivers were available and were a godsend, improving the print output to equal the quality acheived with my old S3 machines.  I then moved on to the S7 and again no problem.  By this time I'd invested in a Psion IR pod to turn my Canon into an IR enabled printer and this worked fine with both the 5mx and S7.  But, as far as trying to print directly from my 9210, well it's just gibberish.  I've definitely got the correct driver selected (Canon Bubblejet BJ mode) but the printout is just awful.  I notice the Citizen PN60 is also supported and you are obviously happy with it so that must work OK.  Someone suggested I try printing to a PDF then printing that out (as being a graphic file it should then work but it doesn't want to print legible output!) but I don't really want to be making a double operation everytime I want to print out a small amount of text.  I just want to press print and go!  Can anyone verify the 9210 actually works with a Canon bubblejet?

Reply to Owen H. Morgan:

<My addled brain seems to remember reading something somewhere about piggybacking the chips. Will this work? Can I simply solder the extra chip on top of one of the others? If so, does it matter which of the two chips I put the extra one on top of?>

I think this is the way D&G Upgrades were handling the memory upgrades on the Revos and S5s - by placing another RAM module above the existing one using the same connections.  If this is so, I wonder if the same thing would be possible on a 9210 (which in my opinion has a FAR greater need of increased RAM than any Psion PDA!)  Anyone know?

Regards

Kevin Thorne

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