Epocdigest V1 # 305

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Epoc Digest Thu, 24 Jul 2003 Volume 01 : Number 305

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Sent to: 802 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 16 messages:

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- SD to CF Adaptor Prices & Availability

- CF Card Database

- Message to Rolf B.

- Re: RAM expansion

- Nature of Symbian

- Psion 7 and Siemens IrDA

- What's new in FreeNote 3.03

- Re: MBook OS vs latest OS - Differences?

- Re: Remapping to Data? / Closing French apps?

- Re: Word crash

- Re: Re: Word crash

- Multiple selection in Data

- The Malaybook,

- Glad you're still with us!

- SMS from USA to GSM in Europe ?

- Re: The Malaybook from Pulster has arrived!

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Date: 22 Jul 2003 07:57:10 -0500

From: Gary Jenkinson

Subject: SD to CF Adaptor Prices & Availability

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: SD to CF adapter

I just noticed in Professional Photographer that Minolta has released a SD

to CF adapter. This means that you can use SD memory cards in your Psion. As

a several digital cameras now use the SD format, this gives us a bit more

choice when looking at cameras if we wish to maintain compatibility with our

Psions. At £47 the adapter is a bit pricey though.

Hi Owen,

Please note this type of adaptor is 14mm longer than a CF card, so any use

of one needs to be in a piece of equipment that can either accommodate this

length or be used with the CF tray door open. I think you will find this

cuts out a netBook, although I can't remember if this is also applicable to

a 5mx or other variants.

If you still want one of these adaptors, I can recommend www.zxpro.com Rest

assured, although they are in Hong Kong, I've had absolutely no problems

whatsoever with them. In fact they were a darn sight quicker than many UK or

European online retailers I've dealt with. I checked before sending this

post and they are only charging US$29/GB£19 for such an adaptor. A bit

cheaper than GB£47!

As for memory cards, I always buy from www.MX2.org in Guernsey, or

www.crucial.co.uk these are consistently cheaper than anywhere else. MX2 is

usually that little bit cheaper. I can wholeheartedly recommend either, both

are very reliable and quick.

I was just about to post this when I remembered you don't have access to the

web if I remember your previous posts correctly. Therefore the contact

detaior Freephone: 0800 013 0330 or +44 (0)1355 586

100

Hope this helps,

Gary Jenkinson

email: garyjenkinson AT email DOT com

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 08:43:24 -0500

From: Martin Guthrie

Subject: CF Card Database

Hi All,

After some off-Digest discussion, Astrid was successful in persuading me to initiate a small CF database (i.e. a Data file). I've started it already to capture:-

1. Brand

2. Size

3. Card works or not?

4. Comments (usually only if there's a problem)

I've got about 40 contributions already purely from what people have sent me in the past about their CF card speed issues. I'd like to increase this a bit further before uploading to my website for general use. I don't want to add any more info. fields into the database simply for ease of maintenance (and time).

So can I ask people to send me emails please (off Digest) with answers to the above 4 points on any/all the cards you've used or are using (unless you've previously sent me the details that is)? Please title your email 'CF Card Database' so that I can filter them appropriately. Obviously I'm not expecting everyone to reply (indeed I'm banking on

it!!) but unless some people do, this won't get off the ground - so all contributions gratefully received... :¬)

Best regards,

Martin Guthrie

—————————

www.pscience5.net

www.freepoc.org

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 08:49:00 -0500

From: Martin Guthrie

Subject: Message to Rolf B.

Welcome back Rolf! I (like others) was slightly concerned that we'd scared you of... :¬)

Did you get any further with the de Vries family (MBMView)? As I emailed you off-Digest a while back, all we need from them is a 'go/no-go' - i.e. no code req'd - (probably verbal would do) and I can do the rest...

Best regards,

Martin Guthrie

—————————

www.pscience5.net

www.freepoc.org

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 09:18:47 -0500

From: Chris S Handley

Subject: Re: RAM expansion

Owen,

>> I think this is the way D&G Upgrades were handling

>> the memory upgrades on the Revos and S5s - by

>> placing another RAM module above the existing one

>> using the same connections.

> Somehow, this doesn't seem logical to me. If I just solder

> each leg of the extra RAM to the corresponding leg on the

> chip that's already on the motherboard, then how does the

> Psion know how to differentiate between the two? I think I'd

> like some more details before I'm willing to risk this.

At the VERY LEAST one pin must *not* be shared by both RAM chips - the "Chip Select" (CS) pin. The problem is where you would get the necessary signal for the CS pin on the new RAM.

Presumably D&G found where to get the extra signal(s) from. If the motherboard was already designed for 32Mb (such as 5mx Pro), then it is quite possible the needed signal(s) are easy to get at.

I suppose at worst it might be possible to directly get the necessary signal(s) from the ARM cpu chip, but that's fiddly soldering, and might well require some additional digital "glue logic" chips.

---

Chris Handley

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 09:46:44 -0500

From: martin

Subject: Nature of Symbian

>>>Indeed , currently only Nokia is fully committed , but even they see the

writing on the wall and are moving towards a totally embedded , closed

version with *.CE and Java running on top of that

Samsung ,Panasonic ,Motorola have already followed this route and Ericsson

and Siemens will follow in 2004 , so nothing will be left for the independent

small-time software developer , as all the functionality Symbian in its

original form had to offer will be stripped away <<<

1. This appears not to be entirely correct. I must assume that you are not talking about smartphones at all. There are no indications that there is any reduction in commitment to Symbian. On the contrary the trend is completely the opposite. Samsung used to be on CE and Palm OS, and is about to release their first Symbian phone. Nokia is moving Symbian further down the price scale. Motorola, Siemens and Panasonic are coming out with their first Symbian phones within a few months time. Fujitsu has already released two Symbian phones. In addition several other mobile phone manufacturers such as Sendo, Sagem, BenQ, Quanta have recently joined as licencees and have Symbian phones underway.

2. Not sure on what basis you claim that .CE and Java should be a winning combination. Usually those two are rather discordant, with Microsoft wishing to steer the development community into proprietary versions of Java defeating the purpose of having it in the first place.

3. No functionality has been or will probably be "stripped away" from Symbian OS. All the functionality that we are used to from the Psions are still in the very latest version of Symbian OS, version 7.0s. This includes Symbian Word, Symbian Sheet, the built in RDBMS/Data, the Email/Messaging application, the Jotter, Contacts, and Agenda engines. But it is up to the device manufacturer to make use of them or not. Only OPL has been moved out as a separate, now Open Source, application.

4. Regarding the embedded market at large, one can always have different views, and CE.net seems to have a good run at the moment. But at the same time Microsoft is under serious threat from several angles, even the desktop. Some of the largest enterprise computing vendors are assiduously anti Microsoft, including Oracle, Computer Associates and IBM.

kind regards

Martin Maxwell

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 09:51:11 -0500

From: Mike McConnell

Subject: Psion 7 and Siemens IrDA

To: Hennie van Zyl

<<< SMS sending using Psion 7 and Siemens ME 45 easy. Connecting to the internet and send/receive of e-mails impossible. Timeout message appears.>>>

Have a look at -

(1) The "Mobiles" file on the General Information page of my website which has settings for various phones including the ME45.

(2) The "Modem Information and Troubleshooting" file on the same page which covers things like creating log files, using Comms to check the ISP dialup, using a "Fixed line" setting to avoid ERROR responses during initialisation and dialup etc.

Regards,

Mike [Dundee, Scotland] __________________________________________

Mobile Phone & SMS: +44 (0)7870 236984

Mobile Fax: +44 (0)7977 156138

Web: http://www.mikemcc.org.uk

__________________________________________

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 12:08:03 -0500

From: Philip Bister

Subject: What's new in FreeNote 3.03

Itamar asked if I could inform the digest of what has been upgraded in FreeNote 3.03

The most significant change is the ability to create much larger notes than before. This is why I have changed the version numbers from v2.xx to v3.xx, as the internal database is different than before. One thing to mention is that if any users are still using v2.xx and wish to upgrade their version of FreeNote, they will also have to upgrade the user database as well (unless the user wishes not to carry forward his/her previous notes). The user database is very easily upgraded for use with the new version by running FnUpGrade which is available from my website.

For readers of the digest who may not know very much about FreeNote, it's a text only note repository. Has seven file tabs to help keep everything neatly filed, and you even create extra files as well!

Remember that FreeNote is freeware, if you think the program could be of use, or you are just curious, why not download it and try it out? It runs on all ER5 machines except the Geofox.

Philip

http://www.philipbister.ukonline.co.uk

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 13:27:29 -0500

From: Christopher Holly

Subject: Re: MBook OS vs latest OS - Differences?

Having made the change, here are two obvious things I have noticed: First, you get the more recent version of Opera for free. Second, [at sign] and " [double quote) keys are switched. Plus there may be some sample files that did not come with the Malaybook.

There is the theoretical possibility of running Linux on the netBook too once you have the upgradeable chip. Unlikely I will ever have time to play with that, however.

Here is what David Lowe told me when I asked him. Hopefully he will not mind my quoting him:

Benefits:

- try out Linux (http://linux-7110.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?url=howtos/netbook)

- upgrade to latest OS released in September 2002 which has:

"5. New Features

Ethernet.

Support is now included for LAN, rLAN, IrLan and 802.11 (Lucent and Cisco) PC cards.

Ethernet settings are available in the System Control

Panel.

Enabled Ethernet settings can be used to access the

internet

in a similar manner to other internet connections.

[Chris: I don't know what is different here, because my MalayBook already did this, I think]

Opera Version 5.

Opera (www.opera.com) replaces the previous Symbian web

browsing application and Opera 3.16.

nFTP (Either supplied with the OS or as a separate SIS file.

See Installation of Optional Components above.)

nFTP (www.neuon.com) is a fully featured FTP client.

NetStatRF (Either supplied with the OS or as a separate SIS file.

See Installation of Optional Components above.)

NetStatRF is used to measure the signal strength of a

wireless

LAN card.

6. Improvements from Previous Releases

* InfraRed sending of contacts is now fully supported.

* File copying issues are now resolved.

* Agenda Preferences issues are now resolved.

* Contacts labels issues are now resolved."

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 17:03:43 -0500

From: U Hornstein

Subject: Re: Remapping to Data? / Closing French apps?

Reference is made to the mail in the EPOC DIGEST V1 # 304 (504) : Astrid Stappenbeck wrote at 20 Jul 2003 21:59:21 (> ):

> Fully remapping a silk to Data - how?

> Since I hardly ever use the infrared silk but Data being

> one of my most used applications I remapped the infrared

> key to data using Macro5.

> When I now tap this silk it eithers opens or switches to

> the last used data-file. So far so good!

> When I tap again - nothing happens, although I do have

> another data-file open at the time. When I try this with

> Jotter e.g. it will switch to the next jotter-file.

> Is there a way I can implement that function to another

> silk? Will a different remapper work or are there any

> bright ideas for a macro?

> I know - it's just a minor issue but my since my 5mxPro

> has already spoilt me with that function ...

Yes, the real power users want it flawlessly.

I have done it similarly, but I am using the contacts silk key for this, because I do not use contacts, but data instead.

I have the same problem as Astrid. My "solution": Pressing Ct+SilkKey brings the other open Data files into the foreground. I would prefer using the silk key alone as well.

With greetings from Germany

Ulrich Hornstein

sent by MC218 (EPOC palmtop)

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

Date: 22 Jul 2003 18:20:03 -0500

From: Stephan Block

Subject: Re: Word crash

In EPOC DIGEST V1 # 300 (445) , Trygve Henriksen wrote on 14 Jul 2003 14:03:24:

> There's a known bug in word that makes it crash if there are more than

> a certain number of 'styles' in use.

Is there a place where one can get a list of those "known bugs"? (because unfortunately I don't know [most of] these "known bugs" occasionally mentioned on this digest)

Sincerely

Stephan

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

Date: 23 Jul 2003 00:14:21 -0500

From: Trygve Henriksen

Subject: Re: Re: Word crash

Greetings!

Stephan Block wrote:

>> There's a known bug in word that makes it crash if there are more than

>> a certain number of 'styles' in use.

> Is there a place where one can get a list of those "known bugs"?

> (because unfortunately I don't know [most of] these "known bugs"

> occasionally mentioned on this digest)

They may be listed in the FAQ...

The last address I have for it is:

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/8130/

It's also possible that it can be found somewhere in the Comp.Sys.Psion hierarchy on news.

Or maybe a Google search can reveal it?

It may be worth having on the Digests website...

:-)

Trygve

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

Date: 23 Jul 2003 07:47:55 -0500

From: Daniele Squarci

Subject: Multiple selection in Data

Whilst working in Data, I would like to select multiple records and delete them or copy/paste them to another data file. But it seems that Data only allows me to select one record at the time, in both card view and list view. Is there a workaround?

Ciao

Daniele Squarci - Italy

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

Date: 23 Jul 2003 12:28:47 -0500

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: The Malaybook,

Answer to: Thomas F. VAN DER ZIJDEN

Re.: The Malaybook - Welcome to the world of EPOC5 in colour. It is indeed great and not tooooooo big. Let us know how you get on with it.

Could anyone maybe repeat in the digest what the differences are between the Malaybook and a normal nBook ?

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 23 Jul 2003 15:34:35 -0500

From: Chris Cooper

Subject: Glad you're still with us!

I'm delighted to see you'll be participating again, Rolf. I was afraid you might have taken recent criticism amiss.

Best,

Chris

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

Date: 23 Jul 2003 21:19:37 -0500

From: "Giorgio O"

Subject: SMS from USA to GSM in Europe ?

Dear friends,

I hope this question will not be considered too much unappropriate: I remember having received once a "Short Message System" text message (most probably Internet originated) from a person living in USA (that I can't contact anymore).

Can anybody point me the link via which service is this possible ?

Many thanks

Giorgio Odazio

Rome, Ital

A nice & cosy apartment in Rome for the price of a hotel room ? www.cassiahouse.com

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

Date: 23 Jul 2003 23:17:31 -0500

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: The Malaybook from Pulster has arrived!

Thomas F. VAN DER ZIJDEN wrote:-

<< However, money transfers within the European Union are free from July 1st. >>

Is this only for transfers in a single currency - Euros? Or also for transfers £ to € ?

<< The only thing that worries me is that it seems to eat away the batteries. I have been advised to keep on charging the battery 2 hours after the red light has been switched off. I hope this will help! I have Chadis7, but I do not understand how this can help me with my charging method. >>

I've got a Psion 7 and recently a nB, both have ChaDis7. Look at the blue line as it drops from the 12.6 volt red line. If there is a small sharp drop, then the battery was not fully charged. If there is a gradual drop then the battery was well charged.

As you use it, you will be able to see each discharge curve, and be able to get a better idea of the charging times.