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Epoc Digest Mon, 24 Jun 2002 Volume 01 : Number 020
Sent to: 380 subscribers
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In today's Epoc Digest 13 messages:
==============================
- PsiWin 2.3.3 frustrations (second attempt)
- Screen rotation (5mx)
- 5mx down
- Siemens S45; Screen rotation; 5mx production;
- RE: EPOC DIGEST # 019 - Psion alternatives
- EPOC Viruses
- Re: EPOC DIGEST # 018 - Reply to forum post jim watson-gove
- Li-ion on a S5mx, Zipped digest...
- PDA market, S45,
- Netbook
- Clive Freeman/San Diego/Accelrys is out of the office.
- Re: Re: Synchronisation with mobile phones
- Repairing MC218
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 06:07:00 +0100
From: p_harrison
Subject: PsiWin 2.3.3 frustrations (second attempt)
Dear All,
I posted this a week and a half ago, but have had no feedback. Does no-one have any ideas at all?? A subtle change in the problem has been higlighted.
Thanks in advance!
Paul
*******************
Anyone help with this one?
I upgraded to 2.3.3, but have found the following problems:
* Sync gets stuck at "Reading Psion - Reading to-dos" & goes no
further
* Files do not open on the Psion via the PC when clicked on - only
if I ***switch the link off on the 5mx*** & reopen it again.
I've uninstalled, used the PsiWin_Reg_clean file, and reinstalled,
but to no avail.
Any ideas? I'm frustrated!!
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 09:00:46 +0100
From: Philip S. Adkins Potter
Subject: Screen rotation (5mx)
Hi,
Peter Keene wants a rotatable screenview for the netBook. I will soon want one for my 5mx but I think it will prove even more difficult then for the netBook since the OS is in ROM.
Nevertheless someone ought to try.
One thing; whoever does it should make it rotate either way so that southpaws like my friend Scotch can use it. He can't be the only left-hander on Earth.
Good luck,
Phil.
"To stay young requires unceasing cultivation
of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods."
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 09:12:10 +0100
From: "Ralph"
Subject: 5mx down
I have had the dreaded screen failure, looks like the ribbon to the screen has gone. Unfortunately, the company from whom I had an extended warranty with has gone by the way side. Can anyone give me a lead to where I can have the Psion fixed at a reasonable rate in the UK.
Thanks
Ralp
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 09:31:09 +0100
From: Mike McConnell
Subject: Siemens S45; Screen rotation; 5mx production;
To: Christopher Marwood
<<Just a report that my newly acquired S45 works perfectly with my 5mx. The settings in the .doc posted at www.mikemcc.net do not work however (for me at any rate)....>>
The details were provided by Craig Chambers of Psion Teklogix and he was using a "netPad" with the phones tested and the Vodafone network, so there might well be differences with other combinations.
=======================================================
To: Peter Keene
<<While Psion's software engineers are (hopefully) ironing out the kinks in Build 158 of the netBook ROM I wonder whether they would consider writing some software to enable the screen to be rotated from landscape to portrait mode and back again.>>
I recall using a text reader with my original Series 3a which optionally allowed the text to be read on a rotated screen so the device could be held like a book. Many of the Pocket PCs also have screen rotation so it is probably a software rather than hardware issue. You just need to persuade someone to implement it :-)
=======================================================
To: Kevin Thorne, Alan Chambers et al
<<I'm not too sure either. Technically, I can see no reason why they couldn't give it a reasonable battery life whilst powering a colour TFT screen. Just look at the success of the colour Nokia Communicator. All it would really need is a decent quality removable li-ion battery>>
Hang on guys! Existing stocks of the 5mx have been depleted more rapidly than expected so, according to the rumour mill, production has been restarted to satisfy the continuing demand. This is additional production
of the existing product - not a new technicolor, widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1, nuclear powered......
--
Regards,
Mike [Dundee, Scotland] __________________________________________
Mobile Phone & SMS: +44 (0)7947 655778
Mobile Fax: +44 (0)7941 679797
Web: http://www.mikemcc.net
__________________________________________
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 09:57:12 +0100
From: "Nicole Carbonara"
Subject: RE: EPOC DIGEST # 019 - Psion alternatives
Reply to: "Arent_Kits_van_Heijningen[106016.3614]" Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST # 018 - Psion alternatives
>> The only really viable long-term alternative now is PocketPC <<
How are we going to be able to transfer our archived Agendas and the Contact file into Pocket PC?
>> the market chances for large form-factor high-end PDA's are diminishing because of the pending onslaught of ultraportable/ultrapersonal PC's at price levels very close to these of large form-factor high-end PDA's
ultraportable/ultrapersonal PC's are capable to run standard operating systems and applications wich means substantial cost savings as there's no separate development effort necessary for mobile users
Also many applications that are expensive and limitedin functionality on a PDA are cheap or even free and fully functional on a PC <<
One very important difference between a (even very small and light) laptop and a palmtop is that my Revo is ready to be used at all times to take or consult notes. On the contrary a laptop has to be switched on or woken up and both operations take more time than switching my Revo on.
Nicole
This message has been checked for all known viruses by Trend PC-cillin
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 10:19:25 +0100
From: "Shlomo"
Subject: EPOC Viruses
I don't know how many of you are aware to the fact that there are some special EPOC viruses on the web. Try this link
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/e.shtml and roll down until you find the Epoc stuff. Interesting!
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 12:48:51 +0100
From: Arent_Kits_van_Heijningen[106016.3614]
Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST # 018 - Reply to forum post jim watson-gove
Jim Watson-Gove wrote to:
Arent Kits van Heijningen about :
That little white....on :
TUE, 18 JUN, 2002, 19:11:06
Jim,
this is a reply to that forum message you posted in the Psion section on the date mentioned above As the forum is now nearly extinct ( only the Palm section shows some activity , but that is dwindling too) I send this reply to the digest
>>I've owned two IR modems and one Dacom with adapter. All worked well until C$erve started making changes that caused script problems.<<
Not only script problems , also that it is no longer possible to access the smtp server ( outgoing mail ) from some handhelds
I've also had probelems when the batteries aged - I watch for fresh batteries or use the AC adapter.
Since moving from C$erve to Earthlink, my IR modem has been working flawlessly. <<
It appeared that there was a batch in circulation with faulty firmware while others reported that certain ambient lighting conditions or bright sunlight were also factors affecting its performance
As of that USR Sportster I mentioned , Dick too had one lying around and asked me on the digest for details
>>Sorry that Psion has seen fit to discontinue making them, but then Psion has made many decisions that I feel sorry for <g>.<<
As far as the PCCards are concerned , technology was licensed to TDK-Greycell in the UK wich have committed themselves to provide them ( at a price ! ) as long as there is demand ( mostly corporate accounts , to replace losses, damage and failures )
Your comments are welcome
k
"kits"
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 14:33:00 +0100
From: Trygve Henriksen
Subject: Li-ion on a S5mx, Zipped digest...
Greetings!
Kevin Thorne wrote:
> Reply to Alan Chambers:
> <I refuse to get excited at the prospect of Psion resuming manufacture of
> the 5mx because I don't believe it will happen. However, if they could do a
> colour TFT version that somehow avoided the power problems that would
> entail, it would still knock spots off the rest.>
> I'm not too sure either. Technically, I can see no reason why they couldn't
> give it a reasonable battery life whilst powering a colour TFT screen. Just
> look at the success of the colour Nokia Communicator. All it would really
> need is a decent quality removable li-ion battery. This type of high output
> but compact cell wasn't really widely available or cheap enough when the
> S5 was first launched
Nope....
A Li-ion battery would add about £40 to £50 just for the battery...
The Recharge circuitry would add another £20 PLUS a costly redesign of the motherboard....
The result?
A machine with a very expensive Li-ion battery that would last a little longer than the same amount of alcalines...
I've been looking at this stuff because I was wondering about the possibility of making a Li-ion battery pack for my MC400...
(It's easier on that because the recharge circuitry is in the battery pack, not in the machine)
I'll probably end up going for NiMh cells and ending up with 1800mA compared to the old 1000mA NiCad battery pack(really a 1200mA after I replaced the cells) That should give me 35 Hours active use, and not bad at all for a laptop, and will make my boss even more frustrated... (His expensive laptop only gives 2.5Hours)
> - it was a relatively new technology then but it's a different story today.
I have a Sony MD player from 1994, and that one uses a Li-ion battery...
Maybe it's costly technology, but it certainly isn't new...
-----
The Digest .ZIP files....
Were they created as a 'normal' .zip file, or as '.zip with icon' file as RMRZip is capable of creating?
The iconised file is NOT compatible with all programs....
(They're all valid files, but some programs doesn't support the entire .zip functionality)
----
:-)
Trygve
Who just began a 4 week vacation, but has no idea of what to do...
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Jun 2002 14:56:51 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: PDA market, S45,
Answer to: Cyril Catt
Re. PDA market - so, where did Psion go wrong ? Was it the abysmal marketing in the USA or maybe the development of Symbian ? Just look at what force Nokia are pushing the 9210 in the newspapers, surely there are a lot of users by now, probably more than 5MX users ? Maybe we are downplaying that platform as a possible follow up to our current machines ?
Answer to: Christopher Marwood
Re. S45 - Thanks. How is the phone by itself ? Easy to use and with all the bells and thrills of today's phones ? Is GPRS expensive to use or not ?
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 1 Jan 1999 19:10:49 +0100
From: Darryl Kempster
Subject: Netbook
Now the proud owner of a (2nd hand) netBook to replace my ailing Series 7 (screen intermittently invisible.)
Easter Egg - sure I remember reading about this on the netBook but can't find it.
OS.img build 156 - Any idea where I can find the original image posted on the web?
I have OS 158 on my machine and after Peter and Trygve's comments and playing around with it myself would much rather have the original version running. Borrowed a friend's PC but unable to restore from the CD (corrupt file message) And trying to browse the web using new version of Opera is not something I relish.
Darryl
Enroute from Nijmegen to Lisbon with Ill Nino
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Jun 2002 08:00:33 +0100
From: Clive Freeman
Subject: Clive Freeman/San Diego/Accelrys is out of the office.
I will be out of the office starting 06/22/2002 and will not return until 07/01/2002.
I will respond to your message when I return. I will be checking voicemail daily.
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Jun 2002 09:38:01 +0100
From: Jan R Gustafsson
Subject: Re: Re: Synchronisation with mobile phones
Rolf Brunsting wrote at 20 Jun 2002 21:34:34 +0100 wrote in EPOC DIGEST # 018
> Dear Jan,
> In response to your message on synchronising
> Psions with mobile phones
> There's no problem in transferring contact and
> appointment data from a Psion Revo, Revo Plus,
> Series 5mx, Series 7, Diamond Mako and Ericsson
> MC218 to a modern phone like the Ericsson T39 or
> Nokia 6310. The problem is with synchronisation as
> the exchange mechanism (infrared object exchange -
> IrOBEX) is one way only and initiated by the
> sender. In other words, there's no IrOBEX
> mechanism to retrieve what the other device has
> stored. It's therefore not possible for a Psion
> (et. al.) to:
> a) Read the contacts and appointment data on the
> T39,
> b) Compare this with its own data,
> c) Modify its data set when and where necessary,
> and,
> d) Send the necessary modifications to the T39.
> The solution phone manufacturers are putting
> forward is the SyncML protocol. Which also allows
> synchronisation over a GSM, HSCSD or GPRS data
> connection with a remote computer. Practical
> problem is that the number of phones that support
> SyncML can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
> Plus that somebody will need to build a SyncML
> based tool for the EPOC based handheld computers.
> An alternative is to make use of a phone
> manufacturer specific protocol, when there is one.
> Nokia has such a protocol for the 7110/6210 and
> 6310/6310i. Zenobyte Ltd, the makers of Phone
> Manager, are currently reverse engineering these
> protocols. They have a solution in beta test for
> reading the multiple number per name phone books
> of these models. But they haven't yet succeeded to
> write such data reliably to them.
> The only thing I can add as a form of consolation
> is that the owners of other handheld computers,
> the Palms and Pocket PCs, are in the same boat as
> the EPOC users.
> --
> Kind Regards,
> Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
Thanks Rolf for your extensive and explaining answer to my posting on synchronisation between Psion 5mx and T39. Maybe I'm ignorant but I still do not see why I am able to perform synch between my PC & Psion by infrared and my PC & T39 by infrared, but not 5mx & T39. To me it still seems that it would be possible to write a sw for 5mx that does the same as Outlook does on my PC & T39 or have I missed something vital here?
Best regards,
Jan G
Stockholm, Sweden
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Jun 2002 12:12:40 +0100
From: Christopher Marwood
Subject: Repairing MC218
Hi all,
Having bought an MC218 as backup to my 5mx I was a bit concerned at reports that they were proving hard to get repaired. But POS just told me that they _can_ repair them (using 5mx parts).
I seem to have missed the posting about D&G - is that another possibility? It would be good to have an alternative.
Do http://www.pda-upgrade.20m.com/ undertake repairs - does anyone know?
All the best, Chris
*++++++++++&
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