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Epoc Digest Wed, 20 Nov 2002 Volume 01 : Number 114 ************************************************************************

Sent to: 708 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 28 messages:

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

- Autoreply Message

- USB GIrBIL and EPOC Release 5

- Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 113

- P5 won't close

- Wifi / 802.11 Recommendations?

- Shareware - illegal use

- US laptop in Europe# 113

- Definitive Sites

- Re: Nokia 6210e signal loss

- Morality + 6210 + JB5Launch

- ER3/5 programs

- PSION PRODUCTION, NOKIA 6210e, morality,

- MenuS5 limitations / Morality

- JB5Launch

- Mutterings

- Software Archive

- Psion still living...and kicking!

- 9210 wish list

- Re: Jotter vs. Data

- OT: Usability, and Symphony

- Re: Series 7 move from Revo / Mako?

- Re: doodler, sketch goes berserk

- HSCSD Charges

- Re: CharMap/Liminar/Archive

- Siena

- Re: Stylus or scratched screen?

- Re: ER3/5 programs

- Re: MMC to PC card converter

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

Date: 18/11/2002 12:00:26 am

From: krausch

Subject: Autoreply Message

I will be out of the office starting 15.11.2002 and will not return until 22.11.2002.

Thank you for your e-mail but I am out of the office for the above mentioned period. I will be able to answer your mail at earliest 22.11. morning. Thank you for very much for your understanding.

For assistance during my absence please contact my colleague

Mr.Petrik (Export) under

Fon: +43 1 7007/35435

Fax: +43 1 7007/35421

e-mail: petrik

Mr.Kopenec (Import) under

Fon: +43 1 7007 35414

Fax: +43 1 7007 35421

email: kopenec

Best regards

NIPPON EXPRESS VIENNA

Krausch Carol

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

Date: 18/11/2002 1:39:27/ am

From: andy.nott

Subject: USB GIrBIL and EPOC Release 5

I bought a USB GIrBIL a couple of days ago due to the fact that I use a Series 7, Revo Plus and Series 5mx and get fed up changing the leads around in my one serial port on my Windows XP desktop PC. However, although I can get the PC to communicate with a Psion, I am not able to transfer files via infrared - a message comes up on the PC telling me that the Psion will not accept file transfer by infrared. I have tried taking the speed of both down to 19200, but still no luck. I am now getting frustrated as I really want to make the most of having a wireless connections between my PC and Psions. Has anyone had this problem and overcome it? I suspect that it's not Windows XP that's the problem, but maybe ER5? Any help would be most appreciated.

Regards

Andy Not

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

Date: 18/11/2002 2:57:40P am

From: "R. Ryerson"

Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 113

P that's the problem, but maybe ER5? Any help would be most appreciated.

Regards

Andy Not

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

Date: 18/11/2002 2:57:40P am

From: "R. Ryers

Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 113

P thatp? the problem, but maybe ER5? Any help would be o"t appreciated.

Regards

Andy Not

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

Date: 18/11/2002 2:57:40P am

From: "R. Ryers

Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 113

P thatp? the problem, but maybe ER5? Any help would be o"t ,pr '8>ted.

Regards

And Not

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

Date: 18/11/2002 2:57:40P am

From: "R. Ryers

Subject: Re: EPOC DIGEST V1 # 113

P thatp? the problem, but maybe ER5? Any help would be o"t ,pr '8>ted.

Regards

And Nott

*++++++++oks<

Dateal but isn't, so it only fits the Siena. (I >>don't have a S3c or S3mx to try on yet)

>>It's also just as fast as the internal SSD drives on any other >>SIBO model, so it's plainly NOT using Serial >>communications. (The Siena is limited to 19200baud)

>>:-)

>>Trygve

>>Who has the top bid on an Psion

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

Date: 18/11/2002 6:18:17 am

From: "E. Pat Hopper"

Subject: P5 won't close

Hi Folks,

My P5 won't close - as you try to close it jams before the screen is 90 degrees to the body. Looks like a problem on the left hand side (as you look at the screen). Anybody got any ideas before I get my watchmakers screwdrivers out?

Thanks in advance.

Pat Hopper

---

Rajabhat Loei,

Loei 42001,

Thailand.

__________________________________________________________

Outgrown your current e-mail service? Get 25MB Storage, POP3 Access, Advanced Spam protection with LYCOS MAIL PLUS.

http://login.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus&ref=lmtplus

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

Date: 18/11/2002 9:54:09_ am

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Russell=20Hutson?=

Subject: Wifi / 802.11 Recommendations?

Can anyone out there recommend a Wifi/802.11b PCMCIA card for use with the netBook (OS v1.05(450)) and a laptop WinXp machine?

I understand that some cards physically obstruct the stylus, and other fail to work with NetStatRF, whilst others don't support WEP?

Any pointers to suitable cards and suppliers (preferably UK based) would be appreciated.

Thanks

Russell

===== ************************************************************ RUSSELL HUTSON

Email : farcrown

Roaming Phone/Fax : +44 (0)7092 120024

More Details : http://profiles.yahoo.com/farcrown ************************************************************

__________________________________________________

Do You Yahoo!?

Everything you'll ever need on one web page

from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts

http://uk.my.yahoo.com

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

Date: 18/11/2002 11:02:31* am

From: "Philip Carlisle"

Subject: Shareware - illegal use

Dear All

Most replies to my hypothetical question (I couldn't create a registration plug-in before doomsday) raised the legal issue as well. I agree that there are problems, but I was responding to some repeated complaints of the 'vanishing author' variety.

I also agree that every effort should be made to locate the relevant authors. So, perhaps readers with problems should check Steve Lichfield's list of authors at 3-lib and, if that fails, publicise the name here, so we can all help.

I have registered several sets of shareware. If a reader was after a registered version of software I had paid for, what would the position (both legal and moral) be if I supplied a copy, with reg file, to that reader?

And would there be a difference between supplying at no charge (my inclination) and asking a fee?

Hope this matter is not boring, but I believe it is a practical issue we should all face up to, as it would be sad to preserve ER3/5 machines but lose the full use of some excellent software.

Regards

Philip

London

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

Date: 18/11/2002 11:04:50a am

From: vlad arghir

Subject: US laptop in Europe# 113

> Epoc Digest wrote:

> Susan - the laptop will work fine in Europe Paul, electricity plugs are also different in Europe! :-)

best

vlad

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

Date: 18/11/2002 12:05:29 pm

From: "Steve Richardson"

Subject: Definitive Sites

Ok..with the demise of various sites of Psion info - can anyone recommend a good one to follow

This forum has become the best vehicle for keeping up to date - but a quick scan of a website is

sometimes all I have time for...and leave the reading of this forum til later in the day.

_____________________________________

Steve Richardson

Microsoft Consultancy and Services

ITS Services Business,

IBM Global Services

Email: Steve_Richardson

Phone: 01962 815495 (Internal 245495) (Mobex 275925)

Ok..with the demise of various sites of Psion info - can anyone recommend a good one to follow This forum has become the best vehicle for keeping up to date - but a quick scan of a website is sometimes all I have time for...and leave the reading of this forum til later in the day.

_____________________________________ Steve Richardson

Microsoft Consultancy and Services

ITS Services Business,

IBM Global Services

Email: Steve_Richardson

Phone: 01962 815495 (Internal 245495) (Mobex 275925)

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

Date: 18/11/2002 12:07:43o pm

From: Jan R Gustafsson

Subject: Re: Nokia 6210e signal loss

"Steve Hodgson" wrote at 17 Nov 2002 21:08:25 +0000 in EPOC DIGEST V1 # 113

> > My company returned several hundred of these

> models due to 'terrible'

> > performance. Signal loss, complete signal

> failure.....

A little off topic (but IMHO relevant):

I have often wondered why signal reception never is discussed (or specified by manufacturers) when it comes to mobile phones. As I understand it, an external antenna is always better than an internal (all other things equal) and the option to have an external extendable antenna is a yet a step forward to getting good reception quality.

For instance, I find that in many of the sparsely populated areas in "the deep forest of Sweden" it would not be possible to connect to a GSM cell without the aid of an extra and external extendable antenna. This is one reason I stick to my Ericsson T39m (now getting to be an "oldie but a goodie"), one of the very few phones with this option. Else, among other things, some of my mails to this digest would not have been posted. (did I hear "Too bad!" from someone ...Hahaha.. :))> ).

Does anybody know of any published (serious) tests of signal reception quality in mobile phones?

Best regards,

Jan G

Stockholm, Sweden

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

Date: 18/11/2002 12:13:26p pm

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: Morality + 6210 + JB5Launch

Hi All

The morality issue seems to have been well covered. My hint though is be very careful about Regit. I used it twice to extend trial periods of software to give me a better chance to try them out. Neither in the end turned out to do what I wanted, so both were deleted from my netBook. By the way, I am not in the habit of ripping off authors who have put a great deal of time and efforts into their products. I happened to install an upgrade from one software house that actually checks for the presence of Regit and screws some of your reg codes for their apps. I had to apologise to them and explain why it was on there and they issued a new reg code but to a bastardised version of my name. Each time I start up their app I am reminded that Regit was on my device.

I had 3 6210e's that failed. All were due to the on off switch either not working at all or not switching the phone off (which probably boils down to much the same thing!). I keep it as a spare, although the firmware is too advanced for my unlocker to work on it :-( so I can't change it from Orange (who have no signal where I live) to TMobile, who do.

I will drop John Boyce an email about JB5Launch and see if he will change it to stay in the background. Previous suggestions to other authors have never got me anywhere except in the case of Malcolm Bryant's EpocSync when I asked for syncing over a serial lead. He did it. What a star!

Andy Hayes

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

Date: 18/11/2002 1:29:05 pm

From: "Owen H. Morgan"

Subject: ER3/5 programs

Hi!

Philip Carlisle wrote (> ):

> What do readers think about the morality of one or more

> of the more expert working to crack the registration

> codes of those programs whose authors have

> disappeared?

It's probably illegal, but I wouldn't say it was really immoral as long as it had been determined that it was impossible to pay for the software and get a unlock code from the author in the normal manner.

I used to be in contact with someone who was able to supply registration codes for any EPOC software, but haven't heard from him for a while. Apparently, he'd figured out how the registration works. Most of my EPOC shareware is registered and paid for though. (Unlike most of my WindoZe software...) On one occasion, I had replaced my Psion and needed a new code for some software that was locked to the ID of the machine. The software author took some time to reply to my e-mail, but my friend replied with a new code within a couple of hours of me e-mailing him. A week later, the software author replied (with the same code).

I've sent my friend an e-mail to see if he's willing to divulge his secret, in which case it could be forwarded to some honest person who could help people with codes for software that can no longer be registered.

One possibility would be to make a charge and then donate the money to a charity if the author did not resurface to claim it within six months. The problem with this I suppose would be to find someone we trust to administer the money and agreeing on a charity. Maybe if we found three or four charities, the "customer" could decide which one would receive his money. There are a couple of people on this list I would trust with this task, but they may of course not want the job. I suppose it wouldn't be fair to ask anyone to do it for free. What percentage do the online registration services take from the software registration fees?

Owen

Thought for the day:

A dropped tool will land on your foot.

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-5320.87'N 614.83'W

Dublin City Moorings

http://home.no.net/naomij

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

Date: 18/11/2002 2:35:24a pm

From: Itamar

Subject: PSION PRODUCTION, NOKIA 6210e, morality,

Answer to: Peter Keene

Re: PSION PRODUCTION - The news was a few months ago that a last batch of 1,000 were produced and it might be that the S.A. dealer bought stock from that batch. I have not heard from anyone that after that last batch more 5MX's were produced. Has anyone got different info ??? Re. NOKIA 6210e - I now have the 6310. How do you put it upside down when the IR window is on the top ? Do you hold your Psion mid air <G> ?

Answer to: vlad arghir

Re. morality - Are the same laws applicable for commercial software and for shareware ? Surely there is a limitation to the support as per the sales terms of the software at time of purchase ? Personally I don't think we can blame any shareware writer for stopping development and/or support on a discontinued platform after a reasonable period.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

The Epoc Digest Team

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

Date: 18/11/2002 3:11:49e pm

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: MenuS5 limitations / Morality

Re: MenuS5 limitations

To Henri Spagnolo

"May be you will be interested having a look at MenuS5 which is an applications launcher and stay in memory. It is not freeware, it cost $15. The evaluation version has some limitations."

Some limitations? - that's the understatement of the year. When I was looking (about two years ago) for some kind of launcher I did install MenuS5 and assigned a couple of apps to the hotkeys - then decided I rather wanted one of them on a different hotkey and found that I couldn't do even that on the unregistered version. I was so annoyed that I deleted it rightaway - it must have been on my psion for about 5 minutes. Maybe you have made some changes in the meantime (I really hope so), if not I wouldn't speak of the evaluation version as limited but rather as crippled!

I stuck (and registered) with extrabars wihch might not be everyone's choice as a launcher but it is great for evaluation - you are limited on the number of bars (five - very generous!) but that is the only restriction.

Henri, if you would operate a similar policy on your MenuS5 program you might attract a few more users. I have tried out loads of programs in the past two years but I still regard MenuS5 as the worst in terms of 'limitations'. It might otherwise be a wonderful application - but I never got that far.

Sorry, but couldn't let it pass...

Astrid

______________________________

Re: Morality

Philip Carlisle wrote:

"What do readers think about the morality of one or more of the more expert working to crack the registration codes of those programs whose authors have disappeared?"

vlad arghir responded:

"The understanding regarding most shareware is indefinite support. It is also a legal matter, not only one of ethics, though. My analogy would be: if a parking meter is broken, you are allowed to park there for free."

I rather agree with Vlad on that matter. If someone just stops developing and no longer offers support, simply moves to a different adress or is absent for a few month - then I would most defintely recognise their property rights. But if a program is really abandoned - i.e. no contact or registration possible, nothing found on google or regnet, well, then I feel free to hack out that program and do what I like with it.

It is easy to give a life-sign, there is webspace for free (if you don't mind ads), you could leave a note there (or ask one to do it for you) that you are currently not available but will so in the future. There is regnet, you can leave the maintenance to a third person or sell it altogether... No, if you really keep an interest in your old stuff, it is easy to keep

visible - provided you're not dead (but their is heritage, isn't it), or held hostage.

If I can't find a trace of an author on the net I presume his stuff abandoned: if I find a Euro in the street I put it my pocket, if I find a wallet I contact the owner, if there is no adress I'll hand to the authorities and if nobody claims it after the statutory period it becomes mine. I see no reason why I should treat software any differently.

Philip, do you really need an expert for it? My understanding of OPL is the most basic. A bit of Steve Litchfield's tutorial, an adaption of a macro or two to my type of machine: that's all. And even I could probably crack the programs you have in mind. Almost all of the newer or updated stuff has either some protection against revtran or is written in C+ anyway. If you have come across an abandoned piece of software use revtran on it and take a look - it really isn't that difficult.

Astrid

________________________________________________________________

Viren? Wir wissen nicht was Ihr Arzt empfiehlt. Wir empfehlen den

Virencheck fr Dateianhnge! http://freemail.web.de/features/?mc=021159

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

Date: 18/11/2002 3:17:36

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: JB5Launch

Hi All

John Boyce, the editor of many excellent freeware apps for the 3 and 5 series Psions replied very promptly to my request for JB5Launch to remain open in the background. For the sake of one screen tap he didn't think that it seemed worth it. I tend to be a keyboard person rather than a screen tapper so I am going to have to force a solution with a macro perhaps or even look at Menu5 perhaps Henri.

Andy Hayes

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

Date: 18/11/2002 6:32:21d pm

From: Kevin Thorne

Subject: Mutterings

Reply to Philip Adkins Potter:

Subject: Kit's Mutterings

Stick with EPOC! Many times my S7 has saved me from virus attack, it's hardly ever crashed in nearly three years (and on those rare occasions it has it's been child's play to restore from a backup and the O/S is safe in ROM anyway). Undoubtedly ER5 will become more and more dated as time goes on but that's not a problem unless it's no longer doing what you want it to do. What I really miss though is the excitement of hearing the latest rumour of a new Psion! What would we have seen replace the trusty 5mx if Psion had continued PDA development? Now we'll never know :-( BTW, I don't even use a desktop for the Net - my S7 is used for that too, although using Web is becoming gradually more difficult due to it becoming outdated!

Regards

Kevin Thorne

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

Date: 18/11/2002 8:56:46o pm

From: "Philip S. Adkins Potter"

Subject: Software Archive

Hi,

The morality of archiving crackz (the right spelling here) or registration codes for abandoned software is something that could be argued over for years and probably will be (though seldom here I hope). Anything, not just software, can be abandoned or discarded and there will still be moral and legal wrangles about who who has the rights to it.

In the UK stuff placed in rubbish bins belongs to the appropriate refuse collectors. Stuff just abandoned belongs to whoever picks it up. Stuff can be *deemed* abandoned if it appears to be legally abandoned even though it is not. Therefore it still belongs to the original owner but the saviour/scavenger has rights to it. I expect most countries have similar laws.

This obviously applies to physical stuff but is intellectual stuff terribly different? I don't know but perhaps someone here knows enough UK law to elucidate (that's not jingoism, just practical restriction).

My personal opinion is that if someone apparently abandons software completely and is untraceable or just plain ignores pleas (and I do mean ignores them; refuses to reply to pleas received) then the software they wrote should be placed in the public domain after, say, six months during which reasonable efforts to find and communicate with the author are made. If that author is found and objects their wishes *must* prevail. It seems a sensible compromise. The same logic should apply to any crack.

I do appreciate that some think the rights to such software still belong to the (untraceable or unresponsive) author and we shouldn't use it or crack it. Morally the question can be answered many ways but morality is up to the individual. That's why there are legislatures. : )

As an example I have on my 3a a useful application written by Mark Esposito (of Pelican Software). There is no way to register this shareware. Even if I had a credit card it's not possible.

It's not on any registration site. I have tried to reach Mr Esposito every way I know but to no avail. I have tried the address on his home site, I have tried Purple Software and I have tried an on-line magazine to which he has regularly contributed. I have tried search engines, newsgroups and this digest. I have tried several other ways too. This software (for alarms and unique) only has a reminder at start up so it doesn't *need* registering but I am horribly honest - I would rather pay. How?

Morally I think I have a reasonable claim to be using this software. I want to buy it but I can't and (important, this) I have tried hard. I haven't stolen it and I haven't defrauded Mr Esposito. I'm not perfect so maybe there is another way I could have reached him but nevertheless I did try hard.

If Mr Esposito tells me that I should delete this (excellent) program I will but he hasn't so far. His rights I respect as most would. But correspondingly I think I might have rights, especially if I can't pay him despite trying (if he refuses that's different, it's his right to refuse to sell to me).

I'm not implying or imputing anything unsavoury about Mr Esposito, far from it, and I hope he wouldn't mind being used here as a real example. Such of his software as I have tried has been exemplary. I haven't bought any since I neither need nor want it.

No-one is forced to use crackz (or illicit software) and no-one should be. If a crack is illegal or immoral by one person's standards then they shouldn't use it. But if it's legal and moral by their standards then I don't think anyone else has the right to condemn them for using it.

I don't want this to end up in a flame war as I know it can be an emotive issue but disappearing software, free and not, will soon be a problem for some. A lot of 3(a/c/mx) software can't be registered and there are many people who could use it; those machines have a long life.

Incidentally, Steve Hodgson may not remember the legal and moral arguments in the UK about"squatting". People even "squatted" in Centrepoint (a central London office block!) and many couldn't easily be legally evicted (those who paid for the utilities/services they used and did no damage). I'm not condoning or condemning, just showing that that situation wasn't clear-cut then and that this situation is probably not clear-cut now.

Also incidentally, though Steve Litchfield's site/archive is good it doesn't cover all the software involved (yet). : )

Happy days,

Phil.

"If it can't be expressed in figures,

it is not science; it is opinion".

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

Date: 18/11/2002 10:12:34n pm

From: "Stephane Sage"

Subject: Psion still living...and kicking!

Hi all!

Just thought I should report to the gang one very recent talk I've had with the Psion hot line in Britain (was supposed to be based in France, but I unmasked them soon, cause of the accent...:-)). The charming and talkative guy who helped me (confirming, by the way, that the printer parallel cable for 3mx was strictly identical to the 5mx's one) definitively mentioned that due to a strong demand on 5mx, our favourite PDA was being manufactured again (with English keyboard only, alas).

This should bring balm to Rolf B.'s or Alan Morris' (to name only two) hearts, as they seem to be (very understandably) grieving at the final disappearance of Psion's consumer products and persuade those of us feeling "all is over", like Arent Kits (who appreciates the clam shell Jornadas so much), not to hurl themselves into Bill Gates' (and his dubious WIN CE) arms.

A bientt.

Stephane (Grenoble, France)

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

Date: 18/11/2002 10:17:39n pm

From: Ashley

Subject: 9210 wish list

My wish list re-9210:

For me more memory, and I would love a simple Database programme, I have tried both SmallBase & PowerData but much more than I require. I need to look up a database with 4,000 records any idea's anybody.

I have been using the 9210 for about 3 months since switching from a 5mx. I use it all day everyday, about 4 hours PDA use and 2 hours phone, including web, I easily get 2 days from a full charge.

I Think the phone is excellent, it is just about the right size for me, being able to use it open on your desk as a hands free phone is wonderful,

a brick ? I also have a T68i it is just far to small to use.

most useful programme iswitcher www.ki-ag.de

shows available memory, and allows closing down of programmes, and the ability to do a software reset without removing the battery.

Backup to the PC is a challenge time wise, as is syncronisation to Outlook, it works every time but at snails pace. even with the latest software 1.70

Opera browser is good (have to copy it from SDK disc)

I work as a field engineer, so to have the phone and PDA in one is great, no more trying to balance on my knee while keeping IR connected, with HSCSD manufacturers technical websites are with the Acrobat PDF reader quite acceptable.

Has anybody beaten 4 Play on the HARD level ? I can only get a draw, it then locks out and I have to close it down and restart it.

Sites to look at

www.my-commuincator.com

www.allaboutsymbian.com

Best wishes

Ashley

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN"> <HTML> v <HEAD> c <TITLE>Converted from Rich Text</TITLE>d <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><META NAME="generator" CONTENT="rt2html converter">t </HEAD> A <BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff" TEXT="#000000">D My wish list re-9210: I i For me more memory, and I would love a simple Database programme, I have tried both SmallBase & PowerData but much more than I require. I need to look up a database with 4,000 records any idea's anybody. > > I have been using the 9210 for about 3 months since switching from a 5mx. I use it all day everyday, about 4 hours PDA use and 2 hours phone, including web, I easily get 2 days from a full charge. n N I Think the phone is excellent, it is just about the right size for me, being able to use it open on your desk as a hands free phone is wonderful, a brick ? I also have a T68i it is just far to small to use. > > most useful programme iswitcher www.ki-ag.de t shows available memory, and allows closing down of programmes, and the ability to do a software reset without removing the battery. t N Backup to the PC is a challenge time wise, as is syncronisation to Outlook, it works every time but at snails pace. even with the latest software 1.70 t e Opera browser is good (have to copy it from SDK disc) T I work as a field engineer, so to have the phone and PDA in one is great, no more trying to balance on my knee while keeping IR connected, with HSCSD manufacturers technical websites are with the Acrobat PDF reader quite acceptable. a Has anybody beaten 4 Play on the HARD level ? I can only get a draw, it then locks out and I have to close it down and restart it. r Sites to look at www.my-commuincator.com A www.allaboutsymbian.com H o Best wishes u Ashley o </BODY>e </HTML>

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

Date: 19/11/2002 1:20:23e am

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: Re: Jotter vs. Data

In Epoc Digest 103, Rolf Brunsting wrote: > I'm afraid there one thing you overlook in your Toshiba VCR example. That > its additional functionality inevitably adds a level of complexity that

> wasn't in your old Nokia VCR. A complexity that may require a different

> approach to VCR operation than the one Nokia took. When Nokia's approach > has become second nature after years of using its VCR the troubles you

> have with the Toshiba can thus be based on the difficulty adapting to

> Toshiba's approach.

I am aware of the issue - instead of raising it explicitly, I

specifically chose an example which obviated the need for it. :-)

It's true, the Tosh has a few new features over the Nokia - it records sound in stereo and allows half-speed record and playback, for

example. Neither of which (IMO) would overwhelm the Nokia's UI.

> << Ease of use, which makes you more productive, the software easier to

> learn, the experience less frustrating, the facilities more memorable when > you don't use them constantly, and keeps the rate of errors you make down > are much more important than features >>

> I'm more inclined to say that ease of use is as important as the features > of an application. Ease of use can't replace a feature you need in order

> to do a particular task.

True, but most features added to products are not must-have

functions.

E.g. MS Word for Windows had all import functions to allow the

production of huge document files which included images and other

OLE'd objects by Version 2. The key feature I find useful in

Version 6 is the auto-red-underline of misspelled words as I type. (Which, it is interesting to note, is an ease-of-use feature rather

than a new task-enabler) Word 95 allowed long file names. Word

97 I didn't note anything particularly new in, but on NT Workstation,

it did have a habit of frequently crashing and taking your document

with it.

So... over Word 2, the key functionality is long file names.

> Trouble is that ease of use isn't a neutral aspect.

Treu, but in a much more benign way than you argue.

> An application will be easy to use when it works the way the user

> expects it to work.

That's /one/ approach to usability and, as you go on to argue, it

has substantial drawbacks. It is, therefore, not a recommended

way to provide usability.

<Rolf's supporting argument>

> And what the user expects very much depends on existing knowledge,

> experience and familiarities. You're therefore not dealing with a

> level playing field as the background of users can be quite

> different. What's more, catering for existing knowledge can

> actually be counterproductive as 'what's expected' can lead to the

> perpetuation of highly inefficient processes.

</Rolf's supporting argument>

> The adoption of more efficient processes in order to boost

> productivity can therefore make demands on the adaptability of the

> software user.

The key word is 'can'. Yes, I agree, it can. Crucially however, it

need not.

But to ensure the demands are lowered rather than raised, careful

design is required.

For software applications, it is possible to measure and test

usability /during/ the design phases.

Again, highly usable designs can be characterised as they:

* require less training to reach a given level of proficiency

* require less re-training to maintain proficiency on seldom-used features

* result in lower user-error rates

* are more productive in use

* are more satisfying to use

I suggest testing for these outcomes rather than sticking to

prejudices about how usability must be implemented.

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 1:44:59r am

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: OT: Usability, and Symphony

In Epoc Digest 104, Gary Y Reyes wrote:

> A bit out of topic but pardon my reminiscing... a software I used > during the 8-bit DOS days called Symphony by Lotus.

Ah yes Symphony, I remember it well. Effectively it was a version of 1-2-3 with lots of extra text-handling facilities.

Sinclair re-used the idea for the all in one WP/Spreadsheet in the portable Z88 - which I also used a lot.

> Then Windows cam along and life became more difficult. To do all

> of the above required at least 3 different software and a lot more > steps to get done.

To be fair, you could then pmix'n'match your favourite WP, spreadsheet and comms software, and macro the 'glue' steps out

of existence. But Symphony did it all straight out of the box.

The downside for Symphony was the steeper learning and

forgetting curves, but as you'd learnt it before windows came along, and continued using it regularly, this wasn't a problem for you.

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 2:27:04d am

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: Re: Series 7 move from Revo / Mako?

In Epoc Digest 105, "John Morris" wrote:

> Could others please explain how they cope with the "size" issue? > I've also got to be honest and say that it's rare that I actually > keep the Mako in my pocket - more often than not it's carried in

> my briefcase, or it's open on my desk

> I too would like a colour version with larger keys and a bigger

> display, but then it wouldn't fit in my pocket anymore.

Well, as you don't currently keep it in your pocket, that's the key disadvantage dealt with.

> And if size isn't the issue, then why not buy a sub-notebook, or

> even a laptop ... is the Series 7 still "wieldy" enough to be

> always kept at one's side?

Two points:

Size is still an issue. Think of an s7 as a s5 that's been physically grown /only/ just enough to give space on the keyboard for proper touch-typing, and which also has a colour full-VGA screen.

- so it's still small - /much/ smaller than a laptop, and considerably smaller than the smallest sub-notebook PCs. (Apart from weird

tiny things like the Olivetti Libretto).

- It's only 37mm thick at it's widest point, so slips easily into briefcases and handbags, even A4 sized 'slip' briefcases.

- it's light at 1150g,

- the battery life is much longer than any laptop - even big hefty laptops

> (obviously I know that the 7 switches instantly "on",

> and has the advantages of using Epoc software)?

Never underestimate the importance of 'instant on' - without it, you /will/ start using pads of paper and yellow stickies again - because they are instant, and your laptop isn't.

There's a good photo of the S7's size at:

http://www.psion.co.uk/series7/about/index.html

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 3:13:12t am

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: Re: doodler, sketch goes berserk

In Epoc Digest 109, vlad arghir wrote:

> Anyone had this symptom?

> In doodler or sketch, you draw a line somewhat slowly and it just jumps > along a line of pixels - the result looks like the cardiogram of a stroke. > The MXpro has just been repaired by POS and has been in "normal" use for

> less than two months so I guess this is not a cable problem. I reset it

> and recalibrated the monitor - it still happens occasionally. Any ideas?

I have this occasionally on my four-month old 5mx, and its had it

from new. I just assumed it was a built-in flaw.

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 5:06:40n am

From: "Gary Y Reyes"

Subject: HSCSD Charges

>Date: 15 Nov 2002 22:42:59 +0000

>From: Mike McConnell

>Subject: HSCSD & GPRS

>In very general terms, HSCSD gives three times the data tranfer rate for = >three times the cost so you get your data faster, then disconnect. Problem = >is, if the login to the ISP or the mailbox happens to be slow, it is = >costing three times as much for this "idle" time. GPRS doesn't have this = >cost - you pay for exactly the amount of data transferred.

>--

>Regards,

>Mike [Dundee, Scotland] =

Mike,

You must have a different charging scheme for HSCSD in Scotland. In the Philippines, HSCSD is charged at the same per-minute rate as the regular GSM service.

So with the faster rate of HSCSD, we can actually download or upload more data for the same cost. Or the same amount of data for less cost.

Gary

_______________________________________

EDSAMAIL. Internet the way YOU WANT IT.

www.edsamail.com.ph

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

Date: 19/11/2002 5:16:16l am

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: Re: CharMap/Liminar/Archive

In Epoc Digest 111, Philip Adkins Potter wrote:

> There's a free ER5 program called "CharMap" from www.pelicansoft.com which > takes the strain out of that! It's probably on www.psionplace.com and

> TUCOWS too. I used it to paste the "." in ": . )" : . ).

Thanks for that pointer.

> there are a lot of free ER3/5 programs out there and some are

> *very* good, but they will soon disappear (and some already have).

> I still have a Psion 3a and the University College site has a huge

> archive of useful software, though some commercial/shareware cannot

> be used as it can't be registered/bought.

> I can't yet provide hard disk space for a software archive though I will

> but we're talking about a Gigabyte (maybe more). But I think there should > be at least two such archives. I know the Digest can't provide such an

> archive, even off-line as mine will have to be at first, but maybe someone > else can spare the space?

I'm happy to spare the space at

www.gawnsoft.co.sr,

but it'd need some exrtra webmins and webbuilders.

I'm also happy to get a dedicated URL for it -

www.<your idea for a name here>.co.sr (or have anyone else apply a better URL against the actual semi-

static IP).

It's my own server, so it has as many GB as I fit to it. (It currently serves 546MB via a web-server and 7 wiki-servers), but there's

2.75GB of free disc space, even before I do any tidying.

The main drawback is that the physical server machine is not yet

part of a redundant server array, and so as I fuiter with the infrastructure, it's probably only about 95-97% uptime. (That's

sounds fine until you realise that means it can be down for 8 hours

a week...)

Mind you, that's still better than being off-line all the time.

I already have downloaded every piece of EPOC freeware I've

encountered, so I there's already a good basis for an EPOC

software archive.

The key question is: what advantage would it have over archives

already in existence, like the TuCows archive?

I have a few ideas, but while I'm happy to provide facilities for an

EPOC software archive, I'm not yet convinced there's a need for it.

Mind you, a stitch in time saves nine.

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 5:19:33o am

From: "Gary Y Reyes"

Subject: Siena

>Date: 17 Nov 2002 15:43:58 +0000

>From: Trygve Henriksen >Subject: Archives, HSCSD costs, Vintage musings... >

>Walking down memory lane...

>I've been playing with a Siena these last few weeks.. >Several colleagues have asked 'where can I get it?' and 'is it new?' >Most refuse to believe it's old...

>They also plain refuse to believe the battery statistics...

>(14 - 15mAh)

>:-)

>Trygve

There are a few of these Sienas around, if anyone is interested.

Send me an email.

Gary

_______________________________________

EDSAMAIL. Internet the way YOU WANT IT.

www.edsamail.com.ph

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

Date: 19/11/2002 5:34:03

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: Re: Stylus or scratched screen?

In Epoc Digest 1wrote:

> I just realised that I vever use the stylus anymore ... Anyone > else use any other substitute stylus?

I almost always use a fingernail-tip, except when using sketch to actually sketch with, when I use the stylus.

One reasn I started is that I touch-type on the Psion, and I was fed up picking up/putting down a stylus, or having my typing style cramped by keeping a stylus in my hand while I typed

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 5:52:18 am

From: "Euan Mee"

Subject: Re: ER3/5 programs

In Epoc Digest 113, Steve Hodgson wrote:

> Even on grounds of practicality, who can make the judgement that > an author has 'disappeared'? To take a couple of hypothetical

> examples, say an author reappeared after a long-term illness or > prison sentence - have they somehow lost the right to an income > from [their] product ... because they failed to respond to queries > and correspondence?

On grounds of practicality, I'd say an author has disappeared when it becomes impossible for someone to give them money in return

for a registration key, for some extended period of time - say four months?

In a four month period, I'd expect that even someone with an illness would manage to use an internet cafe to send an email to a public forum, or to amend the web-page with a line of news, or get a friend or acquaintance to do either of these.

For me, the moral issue of payment goes away /only/ when the author/publisher/rights holder stops making payment possible.

The legal issue never goes away, until there is an explicit permission granted by the author/publisher/rights holder.

The issue of /enforcement/ of the law goes away when there is no author/publisher/rights holder 'asserting their moral rights'.

(Similiar threads are often found on the mailing list for the ancient Oric-1/Oric Atmos platform, and on fora for many other manufacturer-abandoned platforms)

Cheers,

Euathis).sf.(antispam.)net

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

Date: 19/11/2002 2:59:08f pm

From: "Marcus von Cube"

Subject: Re: MMC to PC card converter

Keven Thorne asked:

>Does anyone know where I can get a MMC to PC card converter?

SanDisk makes one (SD PC Card Adapter). It's not cheap but it works both in my Thinkpad and netBook. MMC and SD are almost identical storage cards. SD must have some additional features which I don't know.

Marcus

http://www.mvcsys.de

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

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