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Epoc Digest Wed, 17 Jul 2002 Volume 01 : Number 032
Sent to: 453 subscribers
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In today's Epoc Digest 22 messages:
==============================
- Re: RCOM, Old PCs, Cheap CF cards
- Re: Netbook Power
- Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 031
- Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 031
- Re: DATA conversion
- Re: Epoc Digest no. 027
- Hebrew, netBook, Modem,
- S7 and Ericsson T68
- Phoneman, Compuserve,
- Re: CF-Cards and re: Hebrew
- 6310i / Battery / RCOM / 6210 and Phoneman / Wireless and Bluetooth / Clusters / netBook Power / DECT Modems
- Psion IR Travelmodems
- Re: 9210 and Psion fighting on
- Re: External drives
- Re: Mako and near data loss
- Re: IrOBEX
- Re: 2 Connect You, Nokia 92xx and other
- Mp3 on netBook, petition to Psion
- Importing data to Sheet.
- Re: 256 MB CF deal
- Contacts to Data Conversion
- Musings
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 01:17:36 +0100
From: "Tom Richter"
Subject: Re: RCOM, Old PCs, Cheap CF cards
Hi Jason,
> Finally - a question. I copied the 31MB of data from my old 32MB CF card to the new 64MB
> (61MB formatted) CF card and filled up 39MB of space. How is this possible ?
The CF card is formatted with the same file system as the hard disk in the PC you
mentioned earlier. The system is FAT (not FAT32), there can´t be more than 65 000
clusters, thus the size of a cluster is 1 KB on your new card, whereas it was only 512
Byte on the old card.
On an average, you loose half a cluster with each file, so I think you have 12 000
files on your CF card.
Tom
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 05:16:02 +0100
From: "Caspar Lam"
Subject: Re: Netbook Power
For battery holders capable of holding 10 AA batteries, go to http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?handler=fra_pdfset&pdffile=537 and click on their products, and then power supplies. I don't own a netbook, or I would be willing to develop a battery source (if time permits).
Sincerely,
Caspar
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 05:39:12 +0100
From: "vlad
Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 031
> Epocdigest Owen H. Morgan wrote:
> 50% of the SMS messages he sends via PhoneMan never reach the destination. Afaik: this has nothing to do w. PhoneMan. Since April there are some conflicts between mobile-providers, it seems, about sms-protocols across Europe/the world (explanation from my provider in Germany). It is the "fault" of the receiving network they say. So you send an SMS and you pay for sending, but they are never received which, it seems, cannot be checked because protocols have become incompatible according to I don't understand which EU regulation. NB: you might be missing some sms-s too, and your correspondent might or might not received a nondelivery warning... Solution: bugger your hotline.
best,
vlad
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 07:32:52 +0100
From: u.koch
Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 031
Hi all,
here is a short answer to Jason Garbutt's question about size mismatch on CF cards.
>Date: 13 Jul 2002 00:43:10 +0100
>From: Jason Garbutt
>Subject: RCOM, Old PCs, Cheap CF cards
>...
>CF memory:
>Finally - a question. I copied the 31MB of data from my old 32MB CF card to the new 64MB (61MB >formatted) CF card and filled up 39MB of space. How is this possible ?
The cards are formatted with different cluster sizes. So if you have lots of small files with let's say 800 bytes and a cluster size of 1024 bytes each files needs 1kB on the card. You loose 224 bytes / file.
If the larger CF card has a cluster size of 2048 bytes each files uses 2kB and you loose 1248 bytes.
Larger disks & cards have larger clusters as a compromise between size and speed. Smaller clusters would increase the size of the FAT (file allocation table) that stores an entry for every cluster. Many clusters increase the access time, so the standard formatting is normally a gould deal between size and speed. If you want to change it you have to reformat the card. (All data will be deleted). The standard formatting tool fo epoc (System / Disk / Format ) has no customizable settings, so you have to use tools like "Atelier Smart Format".
Bye
U w e K o c h
(http://www.uwe-koch.de)
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 10:10:46 +0100
From: Lothar.Kammann
(Lothar Kammann)
Subject: Re: DATA conversion
Hi all,
sorry for not replying to several emails sent to this Digest regarding converting a large DATA file to ACCESS, dBase or others.
My father died abroad in RSA (South-Africa) at the age of 79.
Lothar Kammann
Germany
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 10:35:10 +0100
From: "Arent Kits van Heijningen[106016.3614]"
Subject: Re: Epoc Digest no. 027
"Thomas F. VAN DER ZIJDEN" wrote on :5 Jul 2002 12:08:04 +0100
about : Re: 2Connect
>> As far as I know it are only the French who talk about octets (and not bytes) and their abbreviation for GB is therefore Go, not Gokt.<< Well , it is official in the entire EEA but you are right that it was the French ( with the Spanish and Italian ) that pressed that forward As for the correct spelling and abbreviation , here goes :
French: Octet (s) Octets (p) Oct ( abbr)
Dutch : Oktet ( enkelvoud ) Oktetten ( meervoud ) Okt ( afkorting)
Spanish : Octeta ( singular ) Octetas ( plural ) Oct ( abbr)
Italian : Ottetto (s) ottetti (p) Ott ( abbr)
German : Oktet (s) Oktette , Oktet (p) Okt ( Abkuerzung)
Swedish : Oktett (s) Oktette , Oktett (p) Okt ( forkortning )
Norwegian: Oktett (s) Oktette , Oktett (p) Okt (")
Danish : Oktett (s) Oktette , Oktett (p) Okt (abbr)
To my great surprise reading through an old copy ( 1988 or thereabouts ) of Douglas Comer's book "Internetworking with TCP/IP "(ISBN 0-13-470188-7) to see that " octet " rather than "byte " was already the standard in the academic milieu in the US Internet community !
As an interesting sidestep , Psion used NCP , the forerunner of TCP/IP for its PC-Link protocol , but Nokia now moved on to TCP/IP for its new smartphones ..
>> And... I guessed you were Dutch, judging from your name and your e-mail address. AFAIK that's also on the continent, at least the European continent ;-)<<
Yes , I am ,but why do you have a Webpage and mail address in France ?
k
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 11:19:39 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Hebrew, netBook, Modem,
Answer to: Jonathan Shapiro
Re. Hebrew - Have a look at www.penreader.com and do a search for Hebrew. You will find a program Hebrew Epoc. I downloaded it quite some time ago but decided it was too integrated with the working of my Psion to use it, needing soft resets before and after installing. I also kind of remember hearing about some problems with it, but it is too long ago. Have a go at it, just make sure you have a back up.
If you only want to read hebrew texts, there is a program called Hebread which reads hebrew texts created for the Palm, you can find that at www.palmaris.com. I use it quite often for Mincha (afternoon prayer) and berachot (blessings). Finally there was a DATA program in Hebrew called Isradata, which however never got passed the development stage and had too many bugs and also was limited to some 50 entries only without registering, which I did not do as there were too many bugs and no commitment to solve these.
Answer to: Trygve
Re. netBook - I am vaguely thinking about it. It would be a good way to spend some of the bonus money before tax <smile>. However, including a spare battery it is about 700 pounds, which is still as good as the price of a notebook. Now, I know all the ins and outs of the differences, but the price does look on the high side in comparison for what you get, and with some doubt (in my mind) about further development and upgrades. It would be great to havev in the car with street- and routeplanner with the improved screen and I noticed POD now do make a car stand for the netBook. However, it does look large and not pleasant for the passenger next to you (which happens to be mostly my dear wife ...). Well, I am not the kind rushing into purchases, so I'll continue to think about it a while longer.
Answer to: Kevin Thorne
Re. Modem - Yes, but the cost of connecting via the slower Nokia is considerably higher .... ! i find now that when I put the modem near my 5MX and cover the IR eyes with a piece of paper it increases the reliabillity considerably, hardly failing on me anymore. But, I use it only for emailing, not for web surfing for which I don't use the Psion at all.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 11:34:24 +0100
From: "J.B. Gouldsmith"
Subject: S7 and Ericsson T68
I should be most grateful if a fellow digester could send me off-digest a reminder of the settings for using my recently acquired Ericsson T68 with my trusted S7. On another matter - I have noticed recently that whenever I touch the S7 screen frame, to adjust the viewing angle or whatever, the screen brightness/contrast is degraded. Restoring the settings is no problem but I wonder if this is an early symptom of the dreaded screen cable failure?!
J Brian Gouldsmith
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 13:17:25 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Phoneman, Compuserve,
Answer to: Owen H. Morgan
Re. Phoneman - I can't proof it to you, but I suppose it must be somewhere in your friend's settings. I use Phoneman with a Nokia 7110 and occasionally use my wife's 6210, never any problems. Looking at the website of Phoneman, it might be because the SMS's are more than 160 caracters, in which case he should set the Multipart (long) SMS setting in the Preference dialog to "Do not send headers". There is also a plug in for the 6210 to use extended phonebooks, which he should install.
Answer to: Nigel Colvert
Re. Compuserve - I use a Nokia 7110 and it most definitely does work. You do need the script for Compuserve. The question is what Compuserve connection they have got. You need to have the Classic connection and not Compu2000 which will not work with a palmtop as it needs it's own software to work. You must also create a pop3 name and password within the Classic account and without that it will not work either.
If you need further help, send me full details of your settings to my private email address and I'll compare these to my own.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 16:09:59 +0100
From: Astrid Stappenbeck
Subject: Re: CF-Cards and re: Hebrew
CF Cards
To Jason Garbutt
>CF memory:
>I copied the 31MB of data from my old 32MB CF card to the new 64MB (61MB formatted) CF >card and filled up 39MB of space. How is this possible ?
and Marios Haridimou
>256 MB CF
>I have found a good deal on a 256MB Lexar Media CF card at www.buy.com.
>Does anyone have experience in using such large cards in the Psion?
>Can the S5mx and S7 handle a CF this size?
>I have been using Simpletech and Sandisk cards with no problems. Any
>positive experience in our midst with Lexar Media products?
All about cf-cards, performances and formatting can be found at
http://pscience5.net/Hints_Tips/Compact_Flash.htm
It explains how memory or speed is lost depending on the chosen cluster size. If you want an optimum performance of your cf card you will pobably have to reformat it. Unfortunately, the only program available is rather expensive. But check Atelier's EDU if your interested.
http://www.ateliersoftware.com/epoc/edu.html#smartformat
~~~~~~~~
Hebrew
To Jonathan Shapiro
>Does anyone know if by any chance there is any Word software in Hebrew (or other non->English letter language for that matter) for the Psion?
I hav eno personal experiences but there are some programs around. There is psiloc with various languages (including Hebrew) and there is Lev Becker's software
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/8203/download.htm
*++++++++++&
Date: From: "AndyHayes"
Subject: 6310i / Battery / RCOM / 6210 and Phoneman / Wireless and Bluetooth / Clusters / netBook Power / DECT Modems
Hi All
Just had the phone shop call me to say that the 6310i is now available on T-Mobile. Anyone on the list contemplating a 6310 might like to buy the 6310i iinstead and benefit from triband and java. The latter is going to become useful, but for the life of me I can't remember why! I am buying the Motorola bluetooth headset at the same time. ROC Communications in Burgess Hill are selling them for 50ukp and 120ukp respectively when pressed, so don't let anyone try to charge you 129ukp and 150ukp.
I see that the netbook battery went for 53ukp on Ebay, grrrr! Just too late!
I seem to have lost RCOM. Anyone got a URL?
Owen's friend's problem with the 6210 and Phoneman sounds very odd. I have been using a 6210 for a year now and according to the Sent Items I have sent over 300 text messages. I have not known of one of them not arriving. The only oddity I have is that I can't send a text directly from the 6210 to my ex-girlfriend (it's an insurance thing! - only joking), but I can send it from Phoneman OK. Without Phoneman the message "number not in use" appears a few seconds after sending the text. She is on Cellnet, whereas both of the phones I tried to send from were Orange. Neither Orange nor Bt Cellnet could suggest what the problem was and a SIM upgrade to both Orange phones failed to sort out the problem. I think I would try the SIM upgrade path first after moaning about the bill to the phone provider if I was Owen's friend.
Junaid asked about wireless networking or bluetooth on his S7. No go on Bluetooth due to no drivers. Probably no go on the wireless LAN card due to current required.
Jason asked about his growing data. This is down to the cluster size. Always format CF cards in a PC is my best advice to anyone who wants to squeeze the maximum amount of space out of a CF.
Powering a netBook in a car can also be done using an invertor and your netBook power supply. The advantage of this sytem is that although it will cost you more to buy initially, you will be able to power any mains device within the current range of the invertor. So don't be thinking that you can be toasting 4 slices of bread in your Dualit toaster as you drive at 90mph of the middle lane of the motorway!
Has anyone noticed the BT DECT modems in the shop? One less wire trailing from the PC. It can only be a good thing!
Andy Hayes
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 17:25:00 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Psion IR Travelmodems
The PC World at Staples Corner, North West London, has got abt. 8 of these modems in their bargain corner at a price of Gbp 19.99. Some ar the GSM modem, others without GSM, both at the same price. If you live or are in the neighbourhood, certainly worthwhile to pass by.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 21:47:27 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: 9210 and Psion fighting on
Dear Kevin,
<< I think it's a real shame that Psion wouldn't continue to develop the 5mx >>
Psion was working on a new generation, code name Odin, in cooperation with Motorola as well as a Revo with Bluetooth support. Trouble was that Motorola withdrew from Odin quite suddenly. Dr. David Potter had the following to say on this in his Chairman's Statement on the year 2001.
[Quote]
The last year was the most difficult and disappointing in your Company's twenty-one year history. Following aggressive expansion by the Company in 2000, market conditions in the IT and wireless industries were severely depressed in 2001. Some of these factors affected Psion. Most serious was the withdrawal by Motorola from a major joint development for an integrated phone and PDA.
The Board determined that radical action would be taken to reduce the cost structure and protect the integrity of the Group. This led to the announcement of the Company's withdrawal from its long-established organiser and modem businesses ...
[Unquote]
In other words, Psion didn't have the financial and/or technical means to finish the Odin project on its own. While development was already too advanced for Psion to quickly change course. A kind of 'Series 5mx Plus' would come too late in an already overcrowded market. note that Palm was forced to write off more that US$ 300 million in unsold stock last year.
<< Perhaps we should do our own market survey and try to persuade Psion to do a policy U turn? >>
I don't think this will works as more and more 'big gun' companies are becoming active on the PDA market. Pocket PC is no longer the Compaq-Casio-HP triumvirate but also Toshiba, Siemens, Asus and Packard Bell. While Dell has a request for quotation out with four Taiwanese OEM companies for the supply of a Dell branded Pocket PC device. Rumour has it that three of the four have declined because of Dell's very sharp target price. When no. 4 bites, or Dell relaxes the target price, there will be another big gun on the PDA market.
As for PalmOS, Handspring is betting the company on the Treo 180 and 270 becoming a success. While Palm itself has wasted the whole year 2000 on deliberating what it should do next. It has now absorbed Be Inc. and former Be developers are working on the spanking new PalmOS 5. Question is whether it's sufficient to reclaim the year lost. Any news from Handera? ... Say that again ... Hand-Who? The only PalmOS company that's taking a lead and seems to do well is Sony
And then we're not even talking about Nokia (9210, 9290 and 7650), SonyEricsson (R380e and P800) plus the other Symbian OS licensees. It's not for nothing that Microsoft has shifted its focus from Symbian to Nokia. A few statistics:
- Palm has produced 18 million PDAs to date
- The world market for mobile phones in 2001 was 380 million units
- Nokia's 2001 market share was 36.5%.
Combine the three and the conclusion is that it took Nokia 29 working days last year to produce as many units as Palm during its whole life time. Add the 2001 PDA production of Casio, HP, Palm and all the others together and you're not even half way Nokia's production volume. Have a think about the economies of scale Nokia brings to the PDA market. Think about the possible effects the licensing of Nokia's Series 60 platform by Samsung, Siemens and Matsushita can have on the market.
Psion had a chance to stay in the market by collaborating with Motorola on the Odin project. The result could have been a device to rival the 9210 and 9290. No Odin = No chance. Psion was right to withdraw as fighting on would have lead to the company being sucked dry of resources.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 21:47:32 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: External drives
Dear Mike,
Concerning external drives.
<< In SIBO (Series 3, a, c, mx, Siena) it could see the files on the PC when connected that way (you could go into drive M on the SIBO machine and see the PC drive). You can't do that on EPOC, so that's probably the reason you can't have such a device >>
The Series 3 doesn't limit you to a single external drive. Link one to a PC using RCom or PsiWin 1.x and all of the PC's drives are accessible. When the PC's on a network you can access the network drives it's logged in to as well. I once made the mistake of accessing such a network drive from my Series 3a. Problem was that (a) the Series 3 always scans a drive's directory structure and (b) that the network drive was 1.2 TByte in size. Needless to say that the directory scan took a loooooooooong time to finish .... in an out of memory condition on the 3a.
You're right to say that this feature was part of SIBO but isn't part of EPOC. However, what's not there can be added. As the netBook can be fitted with an Ethernet card and linked into a network the ability to connect to remote drives will be part of the network support drivers. An EPOC developer can modify the driver to allow access to the old Cyclone diskette drive via the serial port.
Note that there was also the Ranger diskette drive. This one wasn't Psion specific and allowed any computer with an RS232C port to use it.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 21:47:36 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Mako and near data loss
Dear Betsy,
<< I was recently away for 15 days, traveling with my Psion 5 mx instead of the Mako ... I charged the Mako fully ... When I came back it had completely discharged -- that is, there was no screen activity and it would not turn on -- but there was enough residual power that my files were intact. ... I was surprised it had completely lost its charge in only two weeks >>
That your files were still there shows that the batteries hadn't lost their charge completely. And it's not really a surprise that you couldn't switch the Mako on.
A Series 5(mx) or Revo/Mako isn't completely inactive after having used the Off-key. There's always some activity, like the memory refresh, that will empty the batteries in time. As the Revo/Mako doesn't have a separate backup battery the main batteries are used for this purpose. Go below a certain battery capacity and the Revo/Mako will switch off and refuses to switch on. The remaining capacity is then used to keep the data alive for 10 to 12 days. So that you're not punished when you don't have the charger with you or are miles away from a power socket.
What happened to you is that the 15 days were sufficient to empty the Mako's batteries below the switch-off point. But not sufficient to drain the batteries completely and wipe the data.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 21:47:39 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: IrOBEX
Dear Dimitri,
Concerning the CPen800c and MC218.
<< Psiloc have an application (shareware), called PiBeam that corrects the problem on the MC218, and in fact replaces the old infrared driver with a new one >>
I'm sorry, but that's not the case as there's no problem as such. Both CPen and MC218 use IrOBEX, which stands for Infrared Object Exchange. And an object is the computer equivalent of a freight container, holding any data type or structure as payload. What IrOBEX does is equivalent to shuttling freight containers from one place to another without any care for what's inside.
It's therefore not a question of the IrOBEX driver that the CPen 800c can send a business card to the MC218 but not a text file. Whether objects can be exchanged depends on the *application(s)* on both devices. There's a match when it comes to business cards as the Contacts application can handle the vCard objects the CPen transmits. But there's no standard MC218 application able to handle text files as objects. That's where PlBeam comes in. Install it on the MC218 and you have an application able to handle files as objects : PlBeam.
There you have the advantage of the "I don't care what the data is" nature of IrOBEX. You don't need to mess with drivers, protocols or whatever in order to exchange data between applications. Turn the standard chess notation into an object and a chess game on the MC218 can communicate with, even play against, a chess game on a Compaq iPAQ or Palm M5xx. IrOBEX will get the objects over.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 21:47:44 +0100
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: 2 Connect You, Nokia 92xx and other
Dear Itamar,
<< Re. 2Connect - Do you know where one can find this program ? >>
The applications is called 2 Connect You, listed on the Psion as 2ConnectU, and is made by 2K' Systems in the Czech Republic. Their web site can be found at www.2ksystems.at.
<< Re. Nokia 92.. - A good point. I suppose Nokia is trying to sell their product, and I would prefer to read some more objective opinions. I suppose the reporting in Palmtop Magazine is quite good too >>
There are three mobile phone magazines available from newsagents in the UK - What Mobile, What Cellphone and [Name escapes me]. The 9210 will have been reviewed in September/October last year and you might like to get a back issue from them.
There was also an on-line publication by Stefan Smith and Elizabeth Liddell (of respectively 5Alive and FoxPop fame) called Smartphone User, distributed in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Their web site has gone but I have the first two issues when you're interested - 3.4 MByte in total.
<< But no-one as yet answered me why the majority of 5MX users don't see the Nokia eventually as their next machine >>
I get the impression many thought that an EPOC / Symbian OS based Nokia 9xxx would be a Series 5mx plus mobile phone in Nokia dress. I'm afraid they didn't reckon with Nokia's design philosophy. Which is as strong, if not stronger, than Psion's. Pen operation, for example, was already possible for the GEOS operating system of the 9000 and 9110. That the 9000 didn't use a pen can be explained by its launch date (vintage '96). That the 9110 didn't use a pen either points to Nokia having specific ideas on what the communicator format is. As for functionality, a good look at the 9110 would have given them sufficient clues not to expect Nokia to copy a 5mx. Some of Nokia's decision may look strange through Psion user eyes. However, you don't become the world's no. 1 mobile phone supplier without having some idea of what the consumer wants.
<< Re. Ought - So in fact you are both right >>
It's not a question of who's right or wrong. Phil wanted to express A, which I understood to be B, while the key word allows both A and B. Best efforts by both writer and reader can't always prevent such a misunderstanding. It's no use discussing who's to blame or which person should check what dictionary - get the misunderstanding out of the way.
<< Further, it is very unfortunate in this world that too many parties disagree and fight over "facts". If only these were always clear to both sides ..... >>
Facts aren't subject to somebody's personal outlook or position. That device X is running operating system Y doesn't depend on religious conviction, political and social views, being a one income or two income family, etc. Facts can be verified independently and objectively. The problem with facts isn't really with the facts themselves but with a willingness to check the facts.
By the way, I mentioned there was a company waiting in the wings to announce the licensing of Nokia's Series 60 platform. Well, below the first line of Nokia's press statement of the 10th of this month:
[Quote]
Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd., the Japanese manufacturer of Panasonic mobile handsets, and Nokia, today announced an agreement whereby Matsushita will license the Series 60 Platform from Nokia and integrate it into their Symbian OS-based multimedia phones.
[Unquote]
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 22:37:38 +0100
From: Kevin Thorne
Subject: Mp3 on netBook, petition to Psion
Reply to Trygve Henriksen
Subject: Mp3 on netBook
<For the really obstinate, I have a few .MP3 files(ripped from CD's that I own), so can dampen their enthusiasm a little...
The netBook even have enough spare processing power that I can work in Word or Sheet, or even translate in the OPL editor, without noticeable problems while it plays .MP3 files. (I loose the keyklicks, but that I can live with)>
Playing Mp3 files on a Psion? Please tell us how you did this - I'd love to be able to play my collection on my S7 if possible.
Reply to Vlad:
Subject: Collective petition
> should do our own market survey and try to persuade Psion to do a policy U > turn?
I guess we all dream of that. Collective petition, at least? :-)
That's not such a bad idea methinks! There are over 400 subscribers to this digest and surely our collective clout must make some impression on Psion. What do others think? Worth a try, surely?
Regards
Kevin Thorne
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 23:24:14 +0100
From: "Owen H. Morgan"
Subject: Importing data to Sheet.
Hi
I thought I'd mention it again, as I seem to remember someone moaning about there being no import data option in Sheet a couple of days ago.
You CAN import data to sheet, and it's very easy.
This crops up from time to time, and for some reason, none of the experts (Itamar, are you there) remember the technique when some poor SOD is struggling.
Owen
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Just joking. I'll tell you how:
First you need to get your data into a TAB separated format by exporting it from Data (or some WindoZe monster on a PC). Then open the file in Word or a text editor, select the whole text (Ctrl+a) copy it to the clipboard (Ctrl+c), open a new Sheet file, place the cursor in cell A1 and paste the Data (Ctrl+v) and Bob's yer uncle. Not as convenient as a menu item, but it works just fine.
Hmmm.. I just had a thought. Maybe you could even do this direct from Excel to Sheet with Copy Anywhere? I don't have Office installed on my PC as I use the EPOC machines for all serious computing. (The PC is just an accessory.) Maybe someone could try this. Select the whole worksheet in Excel, copy it to the clipboard (Ctrl+c) and try pasting it in Sheet (Ctrl+v) on a connected EPOC machine. It might just work.
Owen
Thought for the day:
Money will not buy happiness, but it will let you be unhappy in nice places.
http://home.no.net/naomij
*++++++++++&
Date: 15 Jul 2002 23:24:26 +0100
From: "Owen H. Morgan"
Subject: Re: 256 MB CF deal
Hi
Marios Haridimou wrote (> ):
> I have found a good deal on a 256MB Lexar Media CF
> card at www.buy.com.
<SNIP>
> Does anyone have experience in using such large
> cards in the Psion?
I've been using a 256 Mb TwinMos card in my MC-218 for the past three or four months. No problems. (touch wood)
> Any positive experience in our midst with Lexar Media
> products?
I have three 80 Mb Lexar cards, one of which is Widget rebadged. This card lived in my MC-218 until I bought the 256 Mb card, the others have been used in my camera. Never had a problem with any of them. (Famous last words?)
Owen
Thought for the day:
I think, therefore I am. I think.
Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-9311
<65°28.4'N 12°12.43'EBrønnøysund in Helgeland, Northern Norway
Heading south.
http://home.no.net/naomij
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Date: 16 Jul 2002 08:50:51 +0100
From: "Gary Y Reyes"
Subject: Contacts to Data Conversion
>Date: 11 Jul 2002 04:08:41 +0100
>From: Steve Truesdale >Subject: Data file conversion / MC218 internet dialer bug / help with the = >digest
>
>Data file conversion:
Could someone give us some guidelines on how to convert Contacts to Data. Someone once suggested using PhoneMan to export Contacts to a *.CSV file. Then to create a Data file with exactly the same fields as the Contacts file then to import the *.CSV file into Data.
Tried this but because not all of my records in Contacts have all possible fields filled up, whenever I import into Data, some records have fields all mixed up and in the wrong places.
Thanks,
Gary
__________________________________
www.mysurfcard.com
Global Roaming Internet Access
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Date: 16 Jul 2002 15:27:23 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Musings
Thinking about a new palmtop, the question is which direction to take. Do we stay with the "old" and buy a netBook, S7 or spare 5MX/Revo, or do we invest in the "new" and buy a Nokia 9210 (taking you want to stay with EPOC) ?
Lately I have been thinking about the netBook. The screen is better, great keyboard, same programs, faster, but not really a "palmtop", heavier to take with (always need a bag or so). My main hesitation however is that I don't really believe that this platform will be further developed by Psion / Symbian / Teklogix. It was introduced in 1999 and 3 years later besides a few updates nothing new has come out. It was introduced as the first in a series of products, but stayed by itself. As a product by itself it will have no enduring life expectation. Now, if we would know that in future EPOC v.6 will be available for the netBook too, I would not hesitate. But do we ? No.
The Nokia is smaller, also a phone, also heavy to carry (but considerably smaller), smaller screen but good colour quality. As Palmtop wrote "if you're looking for a modern alternative to your existing Psion PDA then you could always consider keeping the Psion primarily for when you want to write a long report or build a giant spreadsheet, using the Nokia 9210 for all traditional PDA functions". Battery life is excellent and the screen is clear and crisp. A lot of programs have already been written for this platform like Task Manager, TomTom City planner, two data base programs, planning programs. You can use the 9210 as a phone while entering data due to the loudspeaker function, eBook reader and Pdf+ are there already, even Tomraider have converted, and the integration between phone and PDA is "second to none". Now, if we would know that more PDA's or combinations with keyboards will follow, I would happily wait .... and that is probably what will happen. Oh yes, and with upgrading I can get the Nokia for half the price of the netBook !
But still interested as always in hearing your arguments <G>.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
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