------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Tips for Posting to the Digest and how to unsubscribe
at the end of the Digest
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epoc Digest Sun, 05 Oct 2003 Volume 01 : Number 357
************************************************************************
Sent to: 795 subscribers
In today's Epoc Digest 10 messages:
==============================
- Demise of Psion
- PC doesn't recognise my 5mx
- The unthinkable
- Netbook winces, Sony's Hot Crossover PDA,
- Re: Netbook with WIN-CE.net
- Psion now freeze (was Mystery crash)
- Re: Psion now freeze
- Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 356 : Re : "The unthinkable... ", "Sony'sHot Crossover PDA" ,""
- Thanks for answers, sonys new pda
- RE: RE: Website update Epocdigest # 345
*++++++++++&
Date: 4 Oct 2003 22:25:32 -0500
From: Timothy H.D. Williams
Subject: Demise of Psion
On Saturday, October 4, 2003, at 07:04 PM, Steve Hodgson wrote:
> At the moment my netBook gives me this but it can't last forever.
Isn't this an argument for the Netpad?
We've all paid for our software and changing platform will cost us more than just changing machines. The Netpad may be a bit clunky and it may not have a keyboard but it should better resist wear and tear than other ER5 machines. And because of the Net ook decision, the price of ER5 machines has to come down.
Best
T
Any time three New Yorkers get into a cab without an argument, a bank has just been robbed.
Phyllis Diller
*++++++++++&
Date: 4 Oct 2003 23:03:34 -0500
From: Nicholas Bloch
Subject: PC doesn't recognise my 5mx
Hi all,
First time I've used this service. Have owned a 3c for years and at Christmas 2002, treated myself to (as I found out later) the last new 5mx in Northern Ireland.
I have a MAJOR problem that I do not know how to solve!
About 6 months ago I upgraded from Windows 98SE to XP Professional and bought from Expansys the latest version of PsiWin 2.3.3. Up until then, my PC detected both my 5mx and 3c and I was able to both backup and download files whenever I wanted to. More ver CopyAnywhere started EVERYTIME I switched on my PC with the 5mx connected. My PC usually detected the 5mx whenever I switched on my PC - although it was haphazard at times. Now when I connect my 5mx, not only does my computer not detect the 5mx, but a so the Copy Anywhere icon is not displayed in the task bar, even though the "Other Options" settings in "My Psion Properties" has been ticked for "CopyAnywhere at Connection" and "Synchronize PC and Psion clocks at Connection". You should know that I cann t connect my Psion 5mx directly to a free serial port, because both are being used for other key devices: One (COM 2) for an APC SMART-UPS monitoring software and COM 1, for an external USR Professional Message Modem. That means that I have to use a USB to Serial adapter to connect my 5mx to my PC. I use a Keyspan High Speed USB adapter, with their latest XP driver. Up until changing to Windows XP Pro, I had had much success using the Keyspan HS Serial to USB adapter - until NOW!! I have not been abl to back up the 5mx for almost 6 months!! Nor download any new files/ software!! After almost 6 months, I really don't know what to do! Now I DESPERATELY need to connect my Psion. Any suggestions??? If you guys don't know of a solution - I am sunk! The ne t available COM Port that is free is COM 3 and that setting was detected by the Kingspan Adapter and I have set COM 3 in "My Psion Properties" for PsiWin to use.
Also, connecting my 3c to my HP Photosmart 1218 printer works brilliantly when printing word documents, but the 5mx acts very strangely! The type face is very small and I often get over printing. Are there any new printer drivers to fix this problem? P ease help!!
Regards,
Nicholas
*++++++++++&
Date: 4 Oct 2003 23:40:26 -0500
From: Cyril Catt
Subject: The unthinkable
Itamar, I would suggest <The superior product has bitten the dust due to it's incompatibillity with the Microsoft (compatible) [or any other major] software and operating system.> Even compatability with Apple or Unix OSs might have given EPOC/Sy bian a viable niche for survival. Compatability with a dominant player is how small fish like Fuji and Konica survived in a film world dominated by Kodak. There are many other industrial examples.
Cyril Catt
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 00:58:10 -0500
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Netbook winces, Sony's Hot Crossover PDA,
Answer to: Timothy H.D. Williams
Re.: Netbook winces - No, the new nB with ER5 is not possible as ER5 does not support the new hardware features like Wifi, Bluetooth, etc.
Answer to: Clayton E. Blackburn
Re. Sony's Hot Crossover PDA - I think you are right that the Sony machines are in first instance a personal entertainment machine and not a "work" machine. However, as said, with some third party software and a CF disk or smartcard you can transform t ese machines to a PDA tool with the entertainment side as a handy extra. The UX-50 of course has the added advantage of a keyboard instead of a thumb-board. I think it is worthwhile to do some more research on the web concerning available software.
Best regards,
Itamar Engelsman
London, UK
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 01:51:44 -0500
From: Wong Koi Hin
Subject: Re: Netbook with WIN-CE.net
Reply to Martin Hofer
Dear Martin,
MH>Regarding the article on the register web site i can only doubt that
MH>psion will make significant sales with a "new" netbook at that cost-
MH>an acceptable notebook is available at lower prices and people have
MH>not been willing to really accept clamshell machines in the last 2-3
MH>years
MH>whats the sense in marketing a bigger, heavier and more expensive
MH>machine for the same "market", especially when the (at the moment to
MH>expensive) tablet PCs are going for the same market share...?
The netBook Pro, like the original netBook was targeted at industrial verticals, and was never really intended as a "consumer" device. As such it has a different market compared to say notebooks in general. Which is not to say there wont be overlaps, b t at the present moment Psion Teklogix is hardly competing directly with notebooks, especially in typical office, consumer markets.
From a client point of view its not just choosing Psion say over a Dell laptop. There are features in the netBook not present in a laptop and of course vice-versa. In a vertical industry where the uses will be more specific as compared to a general usa e laptop, these can be the factors that will cause the netBook Pro to be adopted.
As for clamshell not been accepted by people, well... the Series 5, 5mx had done well in the European markets, and even the Revo was popular internationally (Unfortunately not at the kind of volume to prevent Psion from pulling out of the PDA market). y personal view is that most consumers want a PDA that is handy and portable and it acts mainly as a desktop companion; you get beyond a certain size and people are loath to bring it out of the home/office, people want to use their PDAs while standing, or in other circumstances where there isnt a flat surface to rest the device. Series 5, 5mx did well because it appealed to a group of people who saw the usefulness of a standalone mobile instant-on computing device, and it was no more inconvenient than a la top to carry around. The fact that it has a very solid OS and for its time great built-in and third party apps did not hurt either.
warm regards,
Koi Hin
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 09:13:26 -0500
From: Jon Welford
Subject: Psion now freeze (was Mystery crash)
Hi Sergio,
Yes a lot of us are suffering this what is your isp? I know that BTopenworld does this and other ISP's have been reported as giving this problem.
Chris Handley has started a thread on Pda street forums which may help http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26597
I do not know if this is significant but I have no problem with my wireless card connected to Eclipse with Broadband connection. Does this not use the tcp/ip stack that Chris guessed is possibly causing the freeze? I am afraid I'm totally ignorant abou this sort of stuff.
Cheers Jon Welford
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 21:35:12 -0500
From: renee ford
Subject: Re: Psion now freeze
Sergio wrote:
Hi boy! I have a serious new problem with my Psions, when I connect to internet! The connecttion go OK, but after a few seconds or minutes my Psion freezes-up. Often the only solution is a soft reset other a Crtl+Shift+Fn+K wake-up my Psion! sion go right only if the connection go down! Do you know some solution
>>><<<
Hello,
For the second time I'm writing about this: this is precisely the problem with my S7 - at least once a internet session I have to turn off the machine (usually only way to unstick Web or Opera these days, Control U works maybe
10% of time ) or do Kill Function (works for Email occasionally, but while downloading mail the server disconnects and if Control U doesn't work, I have to turn off the machine. I no longer keep email open while using either browser, leaving email open during a browser freeze results in email not knowing whether it's connected or not. Regardless of care taken, every day eventually the machine simply freezes and nothing works except a soft reset.
I'm re-installing Opera at least once a day as well.
This is my stand-alone computer, I connect to the internet using a landline and various Gold Card modems. I realize this may sound terribly boring to those of you using advanced mobile connections with all the bells and whistles or maybe PC , but there is at least one of us still in the Stone Age who would appreciate being included in the equation since we may have some small motivation to take another look at some theories and perhaps eliminate some others. I realize statistically one landl ne user with the same problem wouldn't matter in a scientific study but we're among friends here; humor me please - this is truly annoying for one who has no other computer to fall back on (and proud of it, datgummit ;^). Another i ritation: all documents saved in Opera default to Web after the soft reset - is there a solution to this? Doesn't matter whether I installed opera to C or D.
Also, again if I may rephrase my earlier request; some time ago, there was mention of ISPs adopting new? different? SMTP protocol and of software that allowed Email to conform - might the possibility of some of our ISP's use of this protocol have some elevance?
Best,
renee in Tucson, AZ
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 11:38:18 -0500
From: Arent Kits van Heijningen
Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 356 : Re : "The unthinkable... ", "Sony'sHot Crossover PDA" ,""
On : 3 Oct 2003 15:30:54 +0000
Itamar Engelsman wrote about The unthinkable..., Contacts back to DATA, Sony's Hot Crossover PDA >>Answer to: Ajai Khattri<<
>>Re.: The unthinkable... - The unthinkable is what we already thought
>>and knew, although probably wished for it not to be true. In my very
>>humble opinion it probably means that EPOC / Symbian PDA's will
>>probably disappear as their will be no more investment in the OS sytem
>>required for it, although others might well think different. It
>>certainly means no new EPOC machines and no netBook Pro version with
>>EPOC. The superior product has bitten the dust due to it's
>>incompatibillity with the Microsoft (compatible) software and
>>operating system. We are all living on "borrowed time" ...... . <<
Borrowed time , yes , it is probably even worse than that , with Moto's decision to leave Symbian and to move towards "Crap Edition" in both MicroSoft and Linux flavors , even the future of EPOC 32 in smartphones is in doubt
Don't be surprised when MicroSoft makes as big an inroad in the mobile phone market as they did in the desktop/laptop market and now in the process of doing so in the server/infrastructure markets too Don't let current popularity/market share of "open" Symbian give you a sense that this area is safe from MicroSoft , it is NOT , I repeat NOT , both Ericsson and Nokia could move to MicroSoft-based products in a heartbeat as a result from market pressures ( Remember Netscape once had 75 % market , now less than 5 % ? ) In reality , the situation would be not as bleak as with the EPOC-based Psions, as Symbian-based handsets are likely to remain available for many years after the switch and probably see some further developments in certain market areas for at least 12-18 months to come ( Nokia still sells huge volumes of certain pre-Symbian models f.ex the 3310 and 3330 models and I expect the 3650/6600=>successors and N-gage=> successors to be available for at least 3-5 years
As a whole , handset makers are now firmly moving towards *CE/.NET/JAVA environments as opposed to native ( C/C++) environments , making the underlying OS irrelevant ( Nokia's latest upcoming smartphone in the 76** range can run Java apps up to 3 0 kB/kOct , most native apps in both the Symbian and *CE environments are of the same size !)
From the Nokia US intenational site :
Downloadable Java applications,
maximum download size 348kB per
application
This will bring it close to Symbian based phones as well as being on a par with Palm PDA's
We are approaching a model where functionality is no longer offered by the device manufacturer but by the network operator / operating system provider
>>Answer to: Janet I. Fine<<
>>Re. Sony's Hot Crossover PDA<<
No , it is not possible to create/edit documents on these that can be opened without conversion on other systems
A word of warning : When increasing screen size at the same time device size stays the same or is decreased , something has to go and that something is the ability for older eyes to read the screen effortlessly either without or with glasses/contacts ( This is where Alphasmart's Dana scores so big , despite the relatively small , dim monochrome screen , the large size of the device more than compensates for this and makes it so easy for these aging eyes )
As both the Sony PEG - UX and the SHARP SL-C 7*0 CATER FOR A RELATIVELY small niche , neither one will make it to the high street and you have to go to the usual online resellers/outlets to get one , so check for a good return policy
There are good revieuws now of the Sony PEG-UX 50 at Brighthand and at PalminfoCenter
Brighthand's one is here : http://www.brighthand.com/article/Sony_UX50_Review
PalminfoCenter's is here : http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=5891
Both are full , hands-on revieuws , not cut and paste from press releases and manufacturers brochures
On 4 Oct 2003 03:17:38 +0000
Clayton E. Blackburn wrote about:: Sony's Hot Crossover PDA
>>Seems that the unit operates for about 5 hours after batteries are
>>recharged.<<
That battery life would not be great is to be expected for a device this size and this feature set
5 hours is the best that is available with todays battery technologies
>> All in all I was quite disappointed because it seemed to live up to
>> its description as a "personal entertainment manager," rather than a
>> "personal information manager".<<
Sony calls it a PEO , a Personal Entertainment Organiser , SHARP calls theirs ( SL-C 7*0 ) PMT's ( Personal Mobile Tools ) The PEG-UX is entertainment oriented , the SHARP SL-C 7*0 is corporate/sysadmin - oriented
k
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 15:48:55 -0500
From: Scott Lloyd
Subject: Thanks for answers, sonys new pda
Hello everybody
Many thanks to all the responses to my psion Microsoft project issue, I will be sure to check out the software. In response to all of the questions regarding sonys new peg-ux50, I finally saw one these at a bestbuy here in town. I was very disappointed in the small size, though I still think it has potential, Palm Os has come a long way but I'm afraid this is a entertainment package more than a working pda. I currently own a peg-nz90 which is a beautiful machine, but its strong points are the phot ,audio,movie record and picture viewing. I really like this machine...( I call it my vacation pda), but it doesn't meet my needs as a "working" pda. sonys claim to fame is in their electronics capability, and they are darn
good, but they are still not addressing my needs for a pda. I'll take my "bread and butter" Netbook for my daily pda needs. If I want a good palm OS machine I think I'd be better of with a tungsten machine. just my two cents,
Long live epoc
Scott in texas, where you learn everything about somebody by reading their bumper stickers on their pickup trucks!
*++++++++++&
Date: 5 Oct 2003 21:08:23 -0500
From: "Francis Creese MISTC"
Subject: RE: RE: Website update Epocdigest # 345
No - I extracted it again and the text in the digest says 345....
See below...... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
Epoc Digest Fri, 03 Oct 2003 Volume 01 : Number 345
************************************************************************
Sent to: 795 subscribers
In today's Epoc Digest 17 messages:
==============================
- Louis Somers temporary unsubscribed
- Message - Re: Contacts back to DATA, Microsoft, Psion Backups
- Navigator
- Psion Synching with notes
- The unthinkable...
- Re: Contacts back to DATA
-----Original Message-----
From: Epoc DigSent: 05 October 2003 00:05
To: Francis Creese MISTC
Subject: Re: RE: Website update Epocdigest # 345
Hi Francis,
No, it was no. 355, only the name of the file is wrong. Please correct it.
Thanks, best regards,
Itamar
*++++++++++&
To reply or to send your own messages,
subscribe by sending an email to
with SUBSCRIBE in the subject.