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Epoc Digest Fri, 28 Feb 2003 Volume 01 : Number 186
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Sent to: 746 subscribers
In today's Epoc Digest 24 messages:
==============================
- Re: Your message to the Epocdigest
- Police Cameras/Ribbon slot
- File Extensions
- PGP for Epoc
- Screen cables
- Orange support staff
- Re: Rolf's pseudonym
- NetStatRF for MalayBook?
- Emails on D, Speed cameras, Discouraged,
- 5mx keys; 5mx <-cable-> phone
- Monopoly, etc.
- Re: S5TV (from Vlad K. to Vlad A.)
- Data counter for GPRS
- Re: netBook GPS
- Re: Camera phones
- Re: Siemens S55 GPRS and Psion 5MX
- Re: Speed cameras
- Re: Police Cameras
- Avoiding Hard Reset When Changing Batteries
- Paragon sale 20 % discount !!!
- S5TV
- screen cable stats
- speed cameras
- Re: TR code (4 Jack)
*++++++++++&
Date: 26 Feb 2003 15:26:04 -0500
From: vlad arghir
Subject: Re: Your message to the Epocdigest
I always did so - I am subscribed w. my Compuserve.com adress. I do not think I can mail over Compuserve-SMTP when logged in to my 1&1 DSL-account, which I do 99% of the time. But so far this did not seem to be a problem... Sorry if this was causing you trouble, I hope this helps. Thankyou for your time and effort!
best,
vlad a.
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 06:54:15 -0500
From: "Jim Cooke"
Subject: Police Cameras/Ribbon slot
To: Keith Giles
Subject: Re: Police Cameras
Jim Cooke wrote:
> We haven't quite reached the draconian measures of police cameras >
> here in the US
>>We do here in the SF Bay Area at many intersections. But I don't see it
stopping those bastards who run >>red lights! I never start pedaling my bike
when a light goes green. Best to wait a few moments.
Indeed, since I work in San Francisco, I'm well aware of those traffic
cameras. However, the ones in the UK are used for a lot more than red light
runners. They also are used to determine speed, if you're following too
closely, and the like, so you can get tickets for a variety of offenses.
Also, the toil number of traffic cameras in San Francisco at last count was
about 50, a figure I suspect is less than one small district in London.
I'm also wary of bikes - I'm sure you know about all the bike messengers in
San Francisco. It's been my experience that many more of these folks run red
lights than do cars. I've never heard of a bike rider getting a ticket for
running a red light, even though they are subject to the same vehicle code
provisions as other vehicles.
Regards, Jim
To: "Hoffman, Susan"
Jim said: "I use canned compressed air to blow the junk out from the
keyboard but I also do the same thing in the open slot where the ribbon
cable lives."
<Pardon my ignorance, but where does the ribbon cable live? Is this the
slot where the PC cable plugs in? Or is it where the battery is, or where
the CF card goes? Or someplace else I haven't thought of? I haven't
cleaned my keys ever. And I've never had a screen cable failure either
(although I live in constant fear of one just because I read too many of
these digests).>
Susan,
When you open your 5mx, look behind the lid as you're opening it. You'll see
a long open slot with the ribbon cable visible at left end. That's what I
meant by "where the ribbon cable lives". Once the 5mx is open, the keyboard
slides forward to cover this slot but the seal is by no means complete. I've
found that dust and little particles of crumbs and such tend to collect in
this slot. I have no knowledge to back this up, but I assume that a piece of
debris that gets trapped under the ribbon cable could very well lead to they
type of damage that's seen in the 5mx.
Regards, Jim
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 09:01:45 -0500
From: Andy Hayes
Subject: File Extensions
Hi All
For anyone interested there is an EPOC Data file of file extensions available. Its probably on PocketInfo, but if you ca't find it then drop me an email and I will send you a copy.
Andy Hayes
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 11:20:15 -0500
From: MartinYirrell
Subject: PGP for Epoc
I've PGP for my 5MX and PC. My problem is that I don't know anybody to send emails to using it! (sorry, I'm up to Digest 176)
regards
Martin Yirrell
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 11:20:23 -0500
From: MartinYirrell
Subject: Screen cables
My 5MX was a display model, I've had it for 21 months so I'm still cheerful. I did have the problem on my 3C but do not remember how long I had had it when it failed. I do remember breaking the screen after it had been repaired however.
Martin Yirrell
(Reading Digest 177)
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 11:20:31 -0500
From: MartinYirrell
Subject: Orange support staff
>Having said that, it's well beyond the ability of the average Orange person to understand<
Having been in on an Ericsson course with some I can sympathize with this view. <G>
Martin
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 11:54:24 -0500
From: Kevin Collins
Subject: Re: Rolf's pseudonym
Greetings, folks.
To Rolf Brunsting (> ):
> Which triggers the thought that I'll have to subscribe > to the Digest using a pseudonym and new e-mail address > for those situations in which I know the answer to a
> question or can supply the information you're after.
Rolf, do you really think that we wouldn't know it was you...<BG>
--
Regards,
Kevin [Cork, Ireland]
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 12:59:37 -0500
From: "John Helton"
Subject: NetStatRF for MalayBook?
I think NetStatRF came out on a later version of netBook OS than the version that comes on the MalayBook. But can it be added? I searched for it and found a message that it was available for download but then disappeared. So will it work on the earlier OS? Is it available?
Thanks,
jh
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 14:25:29 -0500
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Emails on D, Speed cameras, Discouraged,
Answer to: Michael Degn
Re.: Emails on D - However I seem to remember that if you keep a lot of emails in your mailbox using the D disk will severly slow down the program.
Answer to: Alan Chambers
Re. Speed cameras - First of all it is not that off topic as we are discussing here an application of how to use our Psions. If you say that since 1994 the number of accidents / deaths stayed the same, that implies in light of the increase in traffic that it went down. I think the punch question is whether the cameras are a deterent or a punishment. If a deternet, mapping them on your Psion can only help, if a punishment than the government should disallow all these machines showing them up, radar detectors, etc. As they did not do that, I feel happy to use my Psion this way.
Answer to : vlad
Re. Discouraged - I will not be discouraged by any criticism at all. Sometimes others are right, sometimes I am right. We can all have our opinions.
Best regards,
Itamar Engelsman
London, UK
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 15:55:23 -0500
From: John Beattie
Subject: 5mx keys; 5mx <-cable-> phone
Greetings Psioneers,
Keys: It is an old chestnut that the 5mx keys aren't so good as on the 5ive. What is the latest thinking on the good way to deal with this? I transferred to a 5mx about 3 months ago but in the last month I've been using it more and more - it is nearly my main machine at the moment. However, the keyboard is much stickier than the one on the 5ive and the shift and control keys don't always register. Can I take the keys off and smooth something down? Or a spray, perhaps? Is it feasible to move the entire keyboard from the 5ive to the 5mx?
Cables: I'm using a Nokia 6310i, communicating via IR. IR is fine but is sensitive to movement, so it only really works when the train is stopped - yes, well, but trains do move, even in the UK :-)
I can connect them together via cables but that involves three cables -
psion : serial cable : null modem cable : serial cable : phone
and the total length is two to three meters, depending on the length of the null modem cable.
What I'd like is psion : right cable : phone, length about 50 cm.
Does anybody know of a supplier?
Best regards to all,
John
--
John Bea
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 17:37:00 -0500
From: slitchfield
(Steve Litchfield)
Subject: Monopoly, etc.
In answer to the point about Games Arcade patches: I simply did it, I didn't ask anyone for permission first! Although there are times to be cautious, sometimes in the modern world you have to do things first and worry later.
SG's Monopoly patch is the sort of thing that would work well as an unofficial download on a third party site. In the same way that things like PsiMail Internet worked after that product's official demise.
For all these games, given that Psion palmtops are no longer made and that Psion-branded software is all but extinct, no company has anything to lose and Psion users have everything to gain. I can't really see why anyone would waste money on lawyers objecting, etc. ____________________________________________________________________
Steve Litchfield, 3-Lib, http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/
For Psion/Symbian and Palm OS, with computer-based training on CD
Also PocketInfo, for useful files - http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/pocketinfo Journalism: sub-editor and/or senior contributor to:
Palmtop User - http://www.palmtop.co.uk/
PC Basics - http://www.paragon.co.uk/mags/pcbasics.html
PDA Essentials - http://www.paragon.co.uk/mags/pdaessentials.html
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 18:11:21 -0500
From: Vlad Kuzba
Subject: Re: S5TV (from Vlad K. to Vlad A.)
Hello Vlad A
> could you help with setup?
I'll try. In fact, the setup itself is quite easy, but a sort of try-and-see-if-it-works if you do not know the right codes. Download the code tables from J. Pollock's website.
I'll use my great Sony STR DB-725 AV receiver as an example if you don't mind.
Then, suppose you want to have the "M" key on your Psion keyboard to function as "Volume down" on your Sony receiver. Have a look at the Sony table loaded from the web and try to find the machine and function you need. As my receiver is not on the list I had to combine entries from the AMPLIFIER and TUNER sections. The code for the above mentioned "Volume down" function is thus "#813".
Now, with cursor on any key, press CTRL+K and type in the key you want to change, "M" in this case. Then type in the name of the key (it will be presented on the layout screen), "Type" should be set to "Sony 12" in this case. On the next screen (after pressing ENTER) type in the code you have found in the table without the leading hash (#). Leave "Delay" and "Repeat" fields untouched. DON'T FORGET TO SAVE THE FILE!!! as I did after 2 hours of finding and trying the codes!
Repeat this for each key you want to change. As I have said before, it works fine with the receiver, the Sony VCR and a Sony camcorder (had to use some codes for the VCR though), but I can't make it work win a Sony CD player, a superb CDP XB-720 machine. If anyone's interested I can send my
conf files for those Sony machines.
Hope I made it clear and well, as I'm not very good in explaining. I am only a teacher :-).
Have a nice day
Vlad
Vladimir KuICQ: 99588132
Written: 2003-02-27
on a Psion 5mx handheld computer. Sent via GPRS from an Ericsson R520 phone.
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 19:19:37 -0500
From: Vlad Kuzba
Subject: Data counter for GPRS
Hello everybody,
I wonder if there is any kind of GPRS monitor app that would tell me the amount of sent/received data when I am connected to the internet via GPRS. Thanks for the info.
Have a nice day
Vlad Kuzba
Vladimir KuICQ: 99588132
Written: 2003-02-27
on a Psion 5mx handheld computer. Sent via GPRS from an Ericsson R520 phone.
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 21:08:44 -0500
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: netBook GPS
Dear Ramez,
<< Also i would like to use my netbook for GPS. Please keep in mind that i am in the US in Washington D.C. Any help is appreciated >>
I use a very simple combination of:
a) Garmin eTrex GPS receiver,
b) Garmin eTrex cable spliced on to a PsiWin cable
and,
c) Psion Series 5mx or Series 7 with TomTom's Route Planner and Citymaps applications
The combination is very nice for driving in a city or local area you're not familiar with as you can see where your are, whether you're still following your planned route, etc.
<< Why did the newton and psion go out of business although they're the best,each in its category? >>
The category needs to be large enough (in number of users) to allow Apple and Psion to continue developing their products. When the stakes become too high, and you're no longer sure that you get your development money back, you move out.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 21:08:50 -0500
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Camera phones
Dear Eric,
<< I've been wondering whether the phone manufacturers were strongly encouraged to bring out camera models by the phone infrastructure companies. Having overspent on bandwidth, they must be desperate for some facility to encourage greater use of (chargeable) airtime >>
Can't say who was first - the phone manufacturers or the network operators - it's a bit of a 'chicken and egg' question. A higher bandwidth (GPRS) makes new applications possible and these new applications create a demand for bandwidth. You can also say that mobile data had arrived at a 'next step' point for both phone manufacturers and network operators. One that's equivalent to the move from modem to cable or ADSL.
<< I think when Symbian was being mooted, that may have been internet email and WAP that they figured would drive sales. When that didn't work well enough, multimedia messages became their great hope ... >>
I think that the delay between the founding of Symbian Ltd. and the launch of Symbian OS based products has meant that GSM-Data, faxing and WAP weren't the only data features a phone had to offer.
<< I think that will fail to catch on also [MMS : RB], but I'm like you in not wanting MP3 and pictures in my phone >>
Could be that we're a bit too old to see them as cool and funky features. Or as Dutch youngsters would say, we're not "Hahstikke vet!" (read : cool) ourselves.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 21:08:52 -0500
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Siemens S55 GPRS and Psion 5MX
Dear Peter,
<< I've been trying to use a Siemens S55 as GPRS modem for my 5mx without success. I would greatly appreciate any help on how the two devices should be configured! >>
You'll need the Mobile Connectivity Update 2.0, also known as the GPRS Update, installed on the Series 5mx. I'll send a copy of it to you by private e-mail. I've no experience with the Siemens S55 but think that the following set-up will work.
Modem Definition (Control Panel -> Modems -> New):
a) Modem tab
- Name : Siemens S55 GPRS
- Speed : 115200 bps
- Connect via : Infrared
- Fax Class : Auto [1]
b) Options tab
- Loudspeaker in use : Never
- Volume : Medium
- Pause time for "," : 4 seconds
c) Initialisation tab
- Init (reset) string : AT&F
- Data init string : AT+CGDCONT=,,"APN" [2]
- Fax init string : Leave empty
d) Advanced tab
- Flow Control : Hardware (RTS/CTS)
- Terminal detect (DSR/DTR) : Checked
- Carrier detect (DCD) : Checked
- Modem type: Mobile [3]
Note [1] : Change to Class 1 in case of problems
Note [2] : APN is the Access Point Name as supplied by your mobile network operator - the quote marks are mandatory
Note [3] : Change to Fixed Line in case of problems
Modem Definition (Control Panel -> Internet -> New):
a) Service tab
- Name : The name of your mobile mobile network operator
- Connection Type: Dial up
- Use Smart dialing: Unchecked
- Standard dialup number: *99#
b) Account tab
- Manual login : Unchecked [4]
- User Name : As supplied by your mobile network operator
- Password : As supplied by your mobile network operator
c) Address tab
- Get IP address from server: Checked
- Get DNS address from server: Unchecked
- Primary DNS address : As supplied by your mobile network operator
- Secondary DNS address : As supplied by your mobile network operator
d) Advanced tab
- Enable PPP extensions : Checked [5]
- Allow plain text authentication : Checked
Note [4] In case your mobile network operator doesn't use user names and passwords you need to set a checkmark for the 'Manual login' parameter. A terminal window will then pop-up - press the [Enter] key twice and you've entered a zero-character user name and password. The Series 5mx, unfortunately, doesn't accept a blank user name and password entry field for automatic log-ins.
Note [5] Uncheck in case of log-in problems
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 21:10:18 -0500
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Speed cameras
Dear John,
<< I'm sure that Tim would acknowledge that many speed cameras (at least the UK) are positioned to maximise Government revenue ... >>
The same has happened in the Netherlands. There was a time when each police force mentioned how many speeding (and other) tickets it expected to give out that year for planning purposes. This changed a number of years ago when a force's financial position became more important in the overall judgement of its performance. The expected number of fines thus became a target number as each force was expected to generate a certain amount of financial income by itself. A very strange state of affairs as a good police force has the traffic situation under control and won't give out that many fines.
Result was that speed cameras started to appear on locations that weren't accident blackspots but money generating hotspots. What's more, the speed tolerance band police forces applied (speed limit is 80 km/h - fine when speed exceeds 85 km/h) was abolished. The accuracy of the camera's speed detector now became the norm. Meaning people started to get speeding tickets for exceeding the 80 km/h speed limit by 2 km/h. Place a camera at the bottom of a hill and you're bound to catch a fair number of drivers this way. It's difficult to argue against it as a speed limit is a speed limit, of course. However, the way police forces now address the 'speeding car problem' has lead many a motorist to think of speeding tickets as random tax bills.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 21:10:22 -0500
From: Rolf Brunsting
Subject: Re: Police Cameras
Dear Tim,
<< In UK in 2001: 3,443 people were killed - 37,094 were seriously injured - 272,509 were slightly injured >>
The question that immediately pops up is whether these figures are for incidents in which cars and pedestrians were involved as you start your statistics with "Hit by a car at 40 mph, nine out of ten pedestrians will be killed" etc. If not, than there's no direct relationship between the two sets of statistics. In case the 2001 statistics are for all traffic related incidents, I'd like to know the numbers for incidents involving cars and pedestrians. As these figures may not justify the current number of police cameras nor an increase in the number of cameras.
And it has to be recognised that police cameras only tackle one side of the equation. Cameras are able to catch speeding drivers because the car's model and number plate allows the police to identify the owner of the car. Pedestrians don't wear number plates and can't be photographed and fined when they ignore the red light at pedestrian crossings. Look around and it becomes clear that pedestrians increasingly treat the traffic lights at pedestrian crossings as festive decoration. Something that also needs to be tackled.
--
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands
*++++++++++&
Date: 27 Feb 2003 22:59:05 -0500
From: "Hoffman, Susan"
Subject: Avoiding Hard Reset When Changing Batteries
Someone gave me this hint years ago on the old digest. The hard reset happens when the connection to the back-up battery is weak, so when you take out the AAs the Psion has no juice at all. Take a piece of cardboard or thick paper a bit larger than the back-up battery, and put it between the back-up battery and the cover of the battery compartment, so it presses down on the back-up battery. Problem solved. I haven't had an accidental hard reset since I put in my piece of cardboard (a business card piece works really well).
Susan Katz Hoffman
Pepper Hamilton LLP--------------
e-mail: hoffmans
*++++++++++&
Date: 28 Feb 2003 01:14:09 -0500
From: Itamar Engelsman
Subject: Paragon sale 20 % discount !!!
Dear All,
I received the below message and if the digest will come out tomorrow early enough you might still have time to save yourself some money.
Bye,
Itamar Engelsman
London, UK
====== message ======
Dear Paragon Software Valued Customer,
For 2 days only we are giving our customers the opportunity to purchase anything in our online store and save 20%.
All you need to do is click on the link below, select as many products as you would like and save!
Click here to save 20%
http://www.digitalriver.com/promo=8001
It's that simple.
But you need to act fast, this offer ends February 28th, midnight CST.
Also, feel free to pass this along to anyone you know who would be interested in saving 20% on any of our products. They'll appreciate you for it.
Sincerely,
Paragon Technologie GmbH
*++++++++++&
Date: 28 Feb 2003 10:18:47 -0500
From: MartinYirrell
Subject: S5TV
I use IR-Remote and found www.remotecentral.com had some data for my JVC TV & video but not the DVD. Don't know about Telefunken or Samsung tho'.
Martin
Up to Digest 180
*++++++++++&
Date: 28 Feb 2003 10:54:04 -0500
From: RISCOS/ArchiveOnLine
Subject: screen cable stats
Itamar et al,
Hear ye, hear ye!
For the survey....
..... My original 5mx suffered 2 cable failures. Then having taken it to POS Ltd for repair last April, I was issued with a new replacement machine. This went back to POS last month for.......yep......... a new screen cable.
In summation, 2 machines since Sept 2000, 3 screen repairs.
I tend to carry the unit with me everywhere during the business day, and at most othertimes; and as a general rule of thumb the unit lies open on my drawing board all day and is then opened and closed about 5 times a day. It is kept clean, and is dropped about once a year. I have taken to closing it slowly with both hands now.
Little thought #1
Would it be useful for all if someone wrote a little app that ran in the background counting the number of times a unit is opened, that way some statistical evidence can be gotten to prove or disprove the rights and wrongs of our disgruntlement?
Little thought #2
Is there a bias in the left or right handedness of those users who have units that have suffered the screen cable fault? As I noted that when using the 5mx with my right hand I close it with the left which seems to pressure the area where the cable is, and cause a slight torsion on the closing action. This handedness also suggests that more often than not the unit, when in free use, is held by its left hand side.
The two 3c units I have have never had a day's problem except for a cracked screen, and the screen cable in these units is centrally placed.
Well... it's a theory....HTH.
Peter
*++++++++++&
Date: 28 Feb 2003 12:45:35 -0500
From: <tobybutler
Subject: speed cameras
Psioneers
Let me pitch in with this speed camera debate! I'm not sure about this arbitrary speed limit breaking at all. The whole point of speed limits is to minimise the chance of death from collision isn't it? If you hit someone at 40 mph they will almost certainly be dead; hit them at 30mph and there is a good chance they will survive. With respect, I would rather not trust your judgement on what is a safe speed! What makes you more qualified to judge this than everyone else?! I really hope I am not around when you are hurtling towards a speed limit zone and checking your Psion!
I strongly object to highly visable cameras - there are big signs up saying that cameras are present on a stretch of road and that should be enough to warn you that cameras are present. I only wish that next to every speed camera sign there is a reminder of what the speed limit actually is, because sometimes it isn't clear.
Toby
*++++++++++&
Date: 28 Feb 2003 12:46:47 -0500
From: David Lir
Subject: Re: TR code (4 Jack)
"To David Lir
Cannot find this "toll-free" phone of theirs;
Only wrote twice to their About support-email AD ... without any answer <GGG>
In this time when most of us have to change their machine or use backup ones It a pity to have to search and phone; begging for what you paid. Jack"
Hi Jack,
Sorry, I should have posted Proporta's contact details originally - Proporta can be very sloooow to reply to email. Better late than never - I hope!:
Proporta/Palmtec/Scribble
+44 (0)1273 722246
+44 (0)1273 771843
1-888-331-0803 US/(support)
FWIW, I agree that you shouldn't have to chase them for a replacement code. Good luck!
------------------------
David Lir - \\:>{o>
*++++++++++&
************************************************************************
Website : http://www.psioneering.co.uk
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