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Epoc Digest Fri, 25 Oct 2002 Volume 01 : Number 097
************************************************************************
Sent to: 638 subscribers
In today's Epoc Digest 18 messages:
==============================
- best place to buy psions
- Wet electronics
- Nokia 6210e
- Re: P800, GPRS
- RE: Series 7 screen calibration
- IP RATINGS
- My first Tucows Listing
- Re: Help! Psion got wet and cold.
- Tinycalc information
- citymaps overlay, Analysis, shorter backup,
- Re: Cleaning screen
- Re: CF slot specifications
- Re: Jotter
- 12V DC NiMh charger
- Structur of word file
- Eve Standard 22/10/2002
- Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 096
- More things to do with a Psion
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 16:02:06 +0100
From: Taylor Ben
Subject: best place to buy psions
Can anyone recommend the best place to look for a Psion 3a, 5 or 5mx for my partner (and possibly a backup machine for myself as well!), and some guide prices?
Many thanks
Ben
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 16:25:35 +0100
From: "Alan Chambers"
Subject: Wet electronics
Seeing Aleck's plea for advice on his wife's "wet and cold" Revo reminds me of a REX3000 credit card sized organiser I bought cheaply a couple of years ago as a fun toy. It was great - I could easily sync. its diary and contacts with my 5mx, providing a very portable copy of this information for occasions when I didn't want to carry my Psion.
Then one day I left it in my shirt pocket and it ended up in the laundry basket......
After completing a full wash cycle followed by a few minutes in the tumble dryer (its rattling around in the drum is what alerted me to the problem) I took it out and dried it in a warm place for several days before trying to switch it on. It didn't, and still doesn't, work but it gets as far as displaying some diagnostic information on the screen, so at least some of the electronics must still be working.
I also once dropped a portable radio in the bath - it survived but was never quite the same again.
Good luck with your Revo!
Alan Chambers
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 19:40:46 +0100
From: Mike McConnell
Subject: Nokia 6210e
To: Alan Morris
<< I'm on Everyday 50 with 9.6K connection as I understand a monthly fee
(£5? that's 33% more) is required for 28.8K. >>
I just pay a higher rate for 28.8k HSCSD calls with no additional monthly
fee but, as you say, there is no additional charge for the 14.4k
connection. It's just a matter of entering the appropriate Data string.
--
Regards,
Mike [Dundee, Scotland]
__________________________________________
Mobile Phone & SMS: +44 (0)7870 236984
Mobile Fax: +44 (0)7941 679797
Web: http://www.mikemcc.net
__________________________________________
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 20:23:07 +0100
From: William Fuggle
Subject: Re: P800, GPRS
Dear Rolf,
Ok, I agree with most of your sentiments re p800 but I finally hoped I
had found something to create a resurgence of interest in Symbian PDA
rather than Symbian phone. The phone is not that big (I have a t68
which is too small: the keys), especially as no external aerial. The
PDA / psion part I meant to suggest that psion's view on calendar,
contacts, database etc rather than WinCE outlook / palms contacts but
without a decent simple database rather than the form factor eg the
software not the hardware. I am happy with a non-clamshell design with
a plug in finger / thumb keyboard when I have lots of text to enter (or
possibly sony / treo built in mini-keyboard approach). I realise that
it is only my hopes and aspirations that have been dashed but it is
still a disappointment as I think that launch date of 1st quarter of
2003 will be too late for Europe especially with Orange launching a
WinCE phone yesterday. In the US I think Dell's $199 WinCE PDA will
kill off opposition of high end palms, toshibas and ipaqs. But I don't
want a specific make of device because of brand loyalty - I want it to
do certain jobs, not have to carry two devices and I like toys!
(otherwise I would have a £15 electronic device and a £1.50 Letts
diary).
regards
Bill Fuggle
-----------------------
Dear Itamar,
I don't know about cost of GSM v GPRS I chose it because of versatility
of always-on connection. This is especially true for WAP which really
comes into its own with GPRS. On-line email reading and writing uses
much less overhead than downloading (I calculate at least 50% less
data) and I just leave mail on server to download via my broadband
connection for any archiving etc later.
Incidentally Orange have only just got their GPRS billing working so,
until now, you could pay for a 0.5Mb bundle but use 5Mb for no extra
cost.
regards
Bill Fuggle
On Wednesday, October 23, 2002, at 05:48 pm, Epoc Digest wrote:
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 20:27:28 +0100
From: "Coleman, Sheryl E."
Subject: RE: Series 7 screen calibration
> My series 7 screen keeps losing its calibration settings. I
> have to recalibrate it every day, sometimes twice a day. Does
> anyone have any idea why?
Lorenzo,
I think this is a (fairly?) common problem. It happens with mine from time to time, but not usually on a daily basis. You might want to take a look at The 7 site: http://www.newth.net/psion7/ under "problems". Haven't tried the "pressing on the logo" fix myself, but it might be worth a try.
Sheryl
Kansas City
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 21:38:53 +0100
From: Peter Keene
Subject: IP RATINGS
Hi Guys,
For Rolf B re IP ratings:
You wrote: "The chance that I'm mistaken is thus not very high."
I see no need to add to my previous posting on this subject. The correctness of my information can be verified through various sources based on IEC 60529 - Degrees of Protection Provided By Enclosures - including many on the web.
Regards,
Peter
Cape Town.
*++++++++++&
Date: 23 Oct 2002 22:09:28 +0100
From: "Euan Mee"
Subject: My first Tucows Listing
Graphity and Palmist are now both listed on Tucows
www.tucows.com -> PDA
Epoc
Specialist -> Miscellaneous
They removed the 'teensy' from the description of the Pal's screensize in the description for Palmist :-(
Cheers,
Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 12:37:24 +0100
From: "Jason Garbutt"
Subject: Re: Help! Psion got wet and cold.
Hi Aleck,
I had a Series 5 that went for a swim in the bath once ! I took out all the batteries, cf cards etc, and let it dry in an airing cupboard for a couple of days - after which it worked fine (data needed restoring of course) for about 18 months.
Hope this helps.
Jason Garbutt
_____________________________________
&nb ______________________________________
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 17:22:30 +0100
From: "Philip Bister"
Subject: Tinycalc information
Itamar Engelsman wrote:
"Re. Tinycalc - Thanks for the info. Could you describe briefly what it does more or better than the Psion calculator ?"
In reply:
Psion calc is such a good application, for many users, the calculator as built into ER5 is all they will need. I need to make it clear that Tinycalc is not trying to compete with Psion Calc.
I wanted to build a calculator with a reasonable number of features and also not to occupy a large amount of disk space, as I thought that would deter users from installing Tinycalc. The calculator was also to be programmable through the use of user written OPO modules with prompts. It was from this basic idea that Tinycalc evolved.
Tinycalc's strength lies in its ability to run small OPO modules. This way users can easily perform repetitive or difficult calculations with hard to remember formulas. It's the job of the OPO module to collect data from the user via a dialog and to pass the formula to Tinycalc for evaluation. I have included some modules in the zip distribution file for demonstration purposes. Text files are also included to explain these modules and a source code example to assist users in writing their own.
The basic idea behind the use of modules is to extend Tinycalc's usefulness. If a libary of modules is built up, a user will have a calculator with a range easily recalled formulas tailored to his/her needs.
In addition to this, the calculator has a program memory. The program memory can contain either a partial equation or a complete equation. Tinycalc can evaluate a formula held in program memory or evaluate a last answer and a formula held in this memory. A conventional memory is also included.
I have built into the program an on-screen keyboard - users can use either the Psions own keyboard, the on-screen keyboard or a mixture of both. The calculator displays both the formula and the answer and the contents of the programmable memory to the left of the main display windows. The main windows are for data input, answer display and conventional memory contents. A running clock and date are also displayed. Of course there is also a range a functions for square roots, logarithms/antilog, tangent, sine, cosine etc.
As Tinycalc only occupies about 14k of disk space (without on-line help and extra modules), I am quite pleased with the result. Many users could find the program quite useful, but obviously whether or not users decide to install Tinycalc would probably depend on individual calculation needs. Tinycalc is Freeware, and I was intending to write some extra modules to go with the program that I think may be of use. These would probably consist of imperial/metric convertors, and possibly a module for powers.
If any readers of the digest do decide to download Tinycalc and find it useful, it would be nice to have some feedback.
Hopefully, I have managed to answer your question.
Kind regards
Philip
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 17:23:48 +0100
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: citymaps overlay, Analysis, shorter backup,
Answer to: Astrid Stappenbeck
Re. citymaps overlay - With all due respect, some people don't know about the existence of the website, others don't know how to use their computers how to access these websites (and therefore bought a Psion to make life easier). Cheer up, this digest is there for just that reason, to help each other.
Answer to: Alan Morris
Re. Analysis - Well, let's hope our Psions will last that long too ... <G>
Answer to: Hoffman, Susan
Re. shorter backup - I think you can delete the Mail folder totally. If you ever would want to use it again it will be created automatically when starting up the email program. However, your email settings will be lost too. With all these people using their Psions on the loo it is good it does not have a video program .... <G>
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, United Kingdom
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 18:16:27 +0100
From: "Owen H. Morgan"
Subject: Re: Cleaning screen
Howdy,
Susan Hoffman wrote (> ):
> Finally, just thought I'd comment on screen cleaning
> techniques. I take care of dust with a shirt corner or
> Kleenex. If there's a spot that gets in my way, I lick
> the Kleenex first. I know this is probably not good for it
> but no harm seems to have befallen it.
Would it really matter if you harmed the Kleenex? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
I normally use a lens cleaning cloth, a clean handkerchief or even soft toilet paper. More or less whatever comes to hand. I like to add that you should start by dusting the screen very lightly (with the cloth) in case there's a speck of sand or something on it. I speak from sad experience. My old S5 acquired a very nasty scratch in exactly this way. When you're sure there's nothing there that could scratch it, you can attack the greasy fingerprints a bit more vigorously.
I've also used a lens cleaning spray, but haven't replaced the bottle after it ran out. However, if you have a small spray bottle, you could fill it with water and a small drop of dish washing detergent. To avoid getting water where you shouldn't, spray the cloth, not the screen. You only want a damp cloth, not a soaking wet one!
When I developed negatives in my darkroom, I always used a drop of detergent in the last rinse to prevent drying stains on the film. It'll work the same way on computer screens or spectacles, but don't use detergent on camera lenses as it leaves a slightly oily residue which may show up as lens flare on your holiday snaps.
Owen
Thought for the day:
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
--
Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-53°20.87'N 6°14.83'W
Dublin City Moorings
http://home.no.net/naomij
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 18:16:42 +0100
From: "Owen H. Morgan"
Subject: Re: CF slot specifications
Howdy!
Rolf Brunsting wrote (> ):
> It's difficult to comply with the 'full' specs when
> sections were added to the specification after you
> launched the product.
True enough, but there were certainly CF modems and stuff about by the time the 5mx came on the market and there were competing palmtop devices that supported them.
> An I/O card for the 5(mx) would therefore have to be
> non-standard, emulating a storage card.
Yes, it was something like this I had in mind. Since someone went to the trouble of building RS232 floppy disk drives (Cyclone?) for the older Psions, someone might just have thought this a worthwhile project for the S5 family if the door switch hadn't prevented it.
> Meaning that sending data out via the I/O card would
> be emulated by writing fictitious files to the card.
Not exactly by writing fictuous files, as you can in fact edit a disk on a byte by byte (or even bit by bit) basis. It would probably be possible to bypass the EPOC filing system and write direct to the port.
> Question is, whether you can emulate flow control and
> other signalling in a similar fashion.
I would think you could if the I/O card was smart enough. I suppose it would need its own processor and some software in ROM and maybe some onboard RAM, but many I/O cards have that anyway. As far as I understand, the CF interface is in fact a very close cousin of the IDE interface. I believe IDE has hardware handshake wiring besides the data in - out ports, so probably all it would take was a smart programmer and a smart hardware engineer. :o)
> Then there's the question of timing constraints - that
> you're able to respond within the times laid down in the
> specification.
I would think that writing direct to the CF slot is so much faster than a modem or even a USB or BlueTooth interface that it would indeed be fast enough.
> Finally, the question of power consumption. Are you
> able, for example, to power a BlueTooth card on the
> basis of the specifications for storage cards?
Possibly not, but a small BlueTooth interface that added 8 or 10 millimetres to the width of the Psion would have room for a pair of AAA's. For other I/O devices like modems, network cards and USB ports you'd probably have to supply external power. Well, it's all a pipe dream anyway, as Psion in their wisdom decided to build the CF door so that the port doesn't work if the door is open.
I remember the first time someone said "can't be done" to me oe a computer hardware related topic. It was in 1985 and I was using an Amstrad CPC664 for word processing. I was running WordStar (remember that one) in CP/M+ (another "can't be done", as I had to edit the ESC sequences to get the software to work with the Amstrad screen...)
I needed to transfer a large document to someone using a CP/M machine, but the customer's machine used 5 1/4" diskettes and the Amstrad used 3" diskettes. Everyone insisted it was impossible to connect a 5 1/4" diskette drive to the Amstrad. I did it, and found that the machines did in fact have an IBM diskette format in common. 5 1/4" diskettes were a lot cheaper than the Amstrad's 3" ones so I used that 5 1/4" drive for a couple of years until I replaced the Amstrad. I never had a problem with it. I had one 5V and one 12V power supply sitting under my desk though. About a year after i'd done this, someone brought out an external 5 1/4" diskette drive for the Amstrad...
I wrote (>> ):
>> What I've always dreamed of is an interface that
>> would allow me to use the CF at the same time as
>> an external drive or a second CF
Rolf wrote (>> ):
> There are a few external multi-card boxes that allow
> you to plug in (say) a CF card, PC-Card and a
> MemoryStick and get an additional three drive letters
> on your computer. Trouble is that the ones I've seen
> all have a USB interface and Windows 98/NT/2000
> drivers.
Yes, but you have to agree it would have been possible to do something similar in the CF slot of the Psion if only it would work with the door open. I suppose it might need external power, but if one was accessing a CD-ROM or big hard disk, one would need that anyway.
I own both a 24x CD-ROM and a 13 Gb external hard disk with PCMCIA interfaces. The hard disk has it's own power supply, the CD-ROM comes with the option of connecting it to an external power supply if the PCMCIA port is unable to power it. I have a hunch it would not take much to make them work with a Psion with a disabled door switch.
Hmmm... I wonder if they'd work with my old HP200LX... Anyone know a good reason why I shouldn't try?
To me, the main thing I'm unhappy with concerning the EPOC palmtops is simply that they made them too dependant on a WindoZe computer. Psion would probably tell us that their machines were never meant to be a standalone solution, but they are so powerful, they are *almost* there and it's such a shame they didn't go that last 2% of the way.
I use my Psions for all my daily computing and use the Toshiba for the only three tasks the Psions won't do: Editing and storing my photographs, taking backups of the Psions and running chart plotting software. The ability to connect external storage devices would have made the Psions a lot more independent.
Owen
Thought for the day:
It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
- Ursula K. Le Guin
--
Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-53°20.87'N 6°14.83'W
Dublin City Moorings
http://home.no.net/naomij
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 18:17:07 +0100
From: "Owen H. Morgan"
Subject: Re: Jotter
Howdy!
Rolf Brunsting wrote (> )
> The Series 5 already had three application in ROM
> people could use to record notes and random jottings.
Three?
Word, Data and...?
> I therefore didn't, and still don't, see the reason for
> adding Jotter to EPOC Release 5. Two minutes work
> with Data and you have a template file that does
> *exactly* what Jotter does.
Not *exactly*. In a data file, there's always an extra keystroke (Ctrl+Shift+E) before you can start editing an existing record. In Jotter, you simply click where you want to add text and start typing. Not a huge difference, but...
There were four main issues people upgrading (?) from the Psion 3x series complained about when the S5 came out. In fact, they continued complaining about them until the 5mx came on the market. One was the lack of a sort function in Sheet, another was that there was no outlining in Word, the third was the missing Jotter and the fourth was the screen. In fact, several people sold their S5's and went back to the S3x machines for one or more of these reasons. None of them were huge issues for me personally, but they certainly made an impact on Psion's market shares.
When I had the S5, I used Data for the things I now use Jotter for, and as you say, it worked fine. It wasn't a problem for me, nor was the missing sort function in Sheet and I haven't used outline more than half a dozen times since I got the MC218 and Mako. However, I think it was probably wise of Psion to include them in the mx and subsequently the Revo and S7 / Netbook simply to stop the complaints. If they had been more willing to listen to their users regarding other issues and better at marketing, particularly in the US, they might still have been making palmtops.
Using Data was certainly a valid alternative to Jotter, but many palmtop users don't follow newsgroups and mailing lists and aren't computer literate enough to figure that out for themselves (sad, isn't it...). There are in fact a surprising number of palmtop users who never install third party software on their machines and are not even aware that it is possible! (that's even sadder...)
One example of what I use Jotter for is to collect random bits of text from e-mails I've written. A while ago, I answered a question about windvane self steering for yachts on a long distance cruising mailing list. I put a lot of effort into the reply, so I copied it to a record in a Jotter file named "Bits for future articles" as I may write an article for a magazine or my web site on that subject some time and I'm too lazy to be creative twice on the same subject. There's all sorts of stuff in that file on several different topics.
Also, whenever someone here mentions something on the Internet that I would like to check out when I next get to a PC with a landline connection, I copy the text to a Jotter file named "Things to check on the net". At the moment, I've recently arrived in Dublin and am looking for work, so I have a Jotter file named "Job" where I note down details of jobs I intend to apply for. And yes, before you say, it could have been done in Data, but it's easier in Jotter.
The lack of a sort option in Sheet was probably more of a problem for seasoned users. It could be done with a macro, but that needed a fair bit of programming skill. I did it, but it took me a few hours to get it right first time, and the only reason it was worth the effort was that I knew I would be working with several similarly structured Sheet files on a weekly basis for at least a year.
BTW, I don't think Jotter cost much to develop anyway. They already had it for Sibo, and it's very similar to Data, so your £50 may not be far off the mark. It would have been nice if they'd made it available as a download for S5 users though. What would you rather have spent the money on? :o)
Owen
Thought for the day:
Express an opinion, but send advice by freight.
--
Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-53°20.87'N 6°14.83'W
Dublin City Moorings
http://home.no.net/naomij
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 22:58:08 +0100
From: "Owen H. Morgan"
Subject: 12V DC NiMh charger
Howdy!
In case anyone is interested, I dug out the URL for the NiMH charger I'm using:
http://www.mahaenergy.com
The direct link to the product is (or was):
http://www.mahaenergy.com/products/PowerEx/ce/mhc204f.htm
They are also in the UK, and I *think* the address is:
http://www.mahaenergy.co.uk
Check it out.
Owen
Thought for the day:
I doubt, therefore I might be.
--
Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-53°20.87'N 6°14.83'W
Dublin City Moorings
http://home.no.net/naomij
*++++++++++&
Date: 24 Oct 2002 23:15:03 +0100
From: Rolf Vonau
Subject: Structur of word file
Hi Psioneers,
may be someone can help me:
I want to know the internal structure of files created by Psion Word application (at least those informations: which byte contains information about the size of the pure text and where is the pointer to the begin of text)
By any chance you can inform me about an Internet site with such informations.
TIA
Best Regards
Rolf
Munich
http://home.arcor.de/rhvonau/index.htm
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Oct 2002 00:54:39 +0100
From: Kate Head
Subject: Eve Standard 22/10/2002
Hi there Everyone,
Just to let you know that on Tuesday 22nd October in the London Evening Standard newspaper there was the following (from a page about surfing the web from the bath etc. - now easier because of wireless access meaning no cables):
"...And the Psion is back - with a wireless card for its classy, leatherbound netBook hand-held computer. Great for people who work on the move - the netBook is solid, with a battery that lasts for days rather than minutes.
Psion netBook: £800 (01494 450666 www.psion.com)"
All the best,
Kate!!
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Oct 2002 07:39:10 +0100
From: peter.heseltine
Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 096
To Italmar
My S7 is the same vesrsion and build as you detail peter heseltine
>
*++++++++++&
Date: 25 Oct 2002 19:05:52 +0100
From: Kevin Thorne
Subject: More things to do with a Psion
Reply to Owen H. Morgan
<I've got way too much invested in this OS both in terms of software and experience to want to go through the learning curve again with a different OS. It was great fun learning to use EPOC as I kept discovering new amazing things it could do, even things my WindoZe computer can't. If I switch to another OS, I'll spend the first six months relearning the things I already know how to do in EPOC, and will probably get very frustrated at the things I can't make it do.>
Yes, SIBO was my first experience of computing way back in 1991 with my first palmtop, a Series 3 "Classic". I then went on to experience the delights of every Psion since then, changing to EPOC in 1997 with the first Series 5 until today in 2002 I use a Series 7 with over 80 applications stuffed onto it. I'm very interested to discover what your EPOC computer can do that a Windoze computer cannot.
I often think about "upgrading" to a laptop running Windows XP but never quite manage to break away from EPOC, as it does nearly everything I want. The one thing I'd REALLY like to have on my S7 is Bluetooth connectivity, which of course a Windows laptop could offer. Oh well, we live in hope....
Regards
Kevin Thorne
*++++++++++&
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