Epocdigest V1 # 311

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Epoc Digest Sun, 03 Aug 2003 Volume 01 : Number 311

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Sent to: 798 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 14 messages:

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- To all

- Compact Flash database

- PC Card Modem [Re: Adam Carter, Dig. # 309]

- Re: PEG-UX50...

- Re : holidays in france (4 Gianluca)

- Re:WinCE (Off-Topic)

- RE: Berries et al (Off Topic)

- Re: WinCE

- RE: REAL alternatives to the Netbook?

- Re. Upgrading mobile phone

- Re: Revo Form-Factor Successor...

- Re: REAL alternatives to the Netbook?

- Re: Earthlink as an ISP

- P7 CF disk tray

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Date: 2 Aug 2003

From: Epocdigest Team

Subject: To all

Dear subscribers,

due to problems with CompuServe (they don't more allow to send mails with more than 25 BCC addresses) we yesterday got 120 Digests back and I had to repeat some Digestmails once more.

I apologize to them, who got the #310 twice.

Best Regards

Rolf Vonau

The Epoc Digest Team

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Date: 1 Aug 2003 23:01:40 +0100

From: Martin Guthrie

Subject: Compact Flash database

Dear All,

As promised, I've been collecting inputs from people for the past week or so on makes / sizes of Compact Flash (CF) cards that they've found and reported to have worked / not worked in their EPOC machines. I've now uploaded an initial file and it's available on both my Compact Flash page and Database Files page. So far it has details on 63 different make / size combinations numbering over 100 individual cards. If you haven't yet contributed and would like to then please drop me an email letting me know a) the make, b) the size, c) whether it worked or not on your machine, and d) any other comments...

It's not large - 8Kb - and it's available at www.pscience5.net

Cheers,

Martin

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 00:40:40 +0100

From: trzygrosze

Subject: PC Card Modem [Re: Adam Carter, Dig. # 309]

30 Jul 2003 Adam Carter asked:

"I have a Psion DACOM 56k + Fax Gold Card Global [...] can not get it to work with my S7. Can someone please help me with the modem settings. I live in Australia (if that makes a difference to the settings ?I do not know?). I have [...] tested in Comms Program 'at' returned with'ok'. I need help mainly with the 'initialisation' & 'advanced' tabs on the modem settings."

Hi Adam,

If you happen to get "No Dial Tone" error, please uncheck "Wait for the Dial Tone" option in the "Dialling" section of the Control panel (to access select "Current location", then Ctrl+E [Edit]).

Apart from the Control Panel settings there is a "country switch" mechanism build into Psion Gold Card modems, which supposedly adjust some other parameters. I guess, you can access this mechanism with AT commands (sent with Comms app -- you already know how to do it). Please, try AT*MC24 to switch the PC card to Australian settings.

If you like, you can also download a special software from the Psion web site to access this "country switch". (The software usually comes on "Modem Utilities" floppy together with the card, but can be also downloaded separately.) Personally, I wasn't very successful with the Windows version of the utility (requires Win 95/98/NT -- and I have failed to run it on Win ME). On the other hand "EasySwitch", the native EPOC ER5 program originally meant to work with Psion 56k Travel Modem, seems to work with Psion PC card modems as well (tested with my two Psion Dacom netGlobal models: "56k + 10Mb Eth." and "56k + Fax").

Of course, the settings in the "Modems" section of the Control Panel are of primary importance -- but since this topic has already been covered by other digestees, I won't go into it again.

Lastly, you can create a folder C:\Logs\Etel\ and examine the respective logs, which should be automatically created there.

Hope this will be of some help

Marek Oswiecimski

Warszawa, Poland

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 00:42:54 +0100

From: Mike Fellhauer

Subject: Re: PEG-UX50...

>From: Itamar Engelsman

>Re.: Sony Clie Peg-UX50 - Would you mind to give us a report on your >impressions of using it ? I am particularly interested in the standard >software (Word, Sheet, Data, etc), the available extra software and how the >typing on the keyboard goes. Why do you say that Palm OS 5.0 is now >comparible to EPOC ?

I don't know what message you were reading...I never said any of those things. I said (emphasized), "But last week when I saw the mention of the Sony Clie Peg-UX50 mentioned here as a Revo successor I had to have a look, and that was the machine I *will* be buying in *future*." The UX-50 isn't going to be released in Japan until next week, and being in Canada there's no telling when it will be available here (only recently the P800 was made available for sale). So that means I can't give a report on it.

As for the Palm OS being comparable to Symbian, I said, "it's been rumoured that OS5 was the PalmOS with the Symbian kernel"...the kernel is the core of a computer operating system, and the previous kernel to Palm, Kadak, had outlived its usefulness. I don't know if Palm is using the Symbian kernel but it's been talked about so much you have to wonder. Just a note here, you can change the kernal but still have the same interface (look and feel of the way the machine operates). In fact, years ago I had an OS/2 front end (interface) to the Windows OS...so most would think they'd be using OS/2, but in fact you were still using the Windows kernel and could run Windows programs.

Anyway, I hope that clears up what you thought I said and what I actually said.

Mike

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 09:54:34 +0100

From: Jack

Subject: Re : holidays in france (4 Gianluca)

To: Gianluca Gallino Subject: holidays in france X nB (gprs connection)

>>>........ I'll be spending my holidays in France and .... use both my netBook and my T68i ....Vodafone Italy ... allows .. unlimited forfait connection... at 20 euros...

>>>>Does anybody know if in france there are similar opportunities?<<<

No AFAIK

>>>are there any pay-as-you-go card which enable you to browse on the internet on a forfait basis?

SFR (part of Vodafone roaming network) and FTorange or BOT do sell PAYG SIM (from 15 to 60 Euro) which allows MMS WAP and GPRS x a 6 Euro/month base forfait.

>>>...As an alternative, I have already become a wanadoo free-user and I could buy a card in order to connect myself via landline connection......... I would prefer a GPRS connection instead....<<<

I suggest you freely "subscribe" at www.free.fr/ (the best French ISP IMHO)

Their "local tarif" phone numbers are great for RTC AND/OR Mobile connection.

NB 1-2 week(s) postal delay before you get your password.

>>>...NB: please keep on supporting the petition for an EPOC/Symbian new netBook PRO on www.petitiononline.com/nbookpro/petition.html<<<

RE : I did

Jack

"Messaging X Epoc Email liberates from (anti)viruses, worms, horses..."

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 12:27:30 +0100

From: koihin

Subject: Re:WinCE (Off-Topic)

Reply to: Alan Morris

Dear Alan,

According to the offical canon of Microsoft, CE stands for:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=%2Fservicedesks%2Fbin%2Fkbsea rch.asp%3FArticle%3D166915

So, now we know.

AM>On this Digest we all enjoy our Psions with EPOC, but unfortunately it is a dying OS.

while I believe I understood your meaning, i disagree somewhat that the OS is "dying". As far as I am aware, ER5 in its current state is stable enough and bug-free enough to allow users to use their psions as originally intended or thought of by its producers. I am still as productive with my machines as when I first bought them. Thus far I have only suffered a loss of productivity due to hardware issues, not software. So it would be more accurate to say the machines themselves are dying, not the OS. With the progress of technology, new features both hardware and software-wise are made available and new uses for them come up, which makes our Psions look "antiquated". The question then is do you want or need those new features. There will be folks who are perfectly satisfied with their current setup and not change machines and avoid going through the migration pains. Most Humans are creatures of habit after all.

AM>Also most days I see a number of folk using mobile phones, some with built-in camera interfaces, but none use them for photos. So who's using these phone cameras and phone PDAs?

I own a camera phone, and I do use the camera feature frequently almostly exclusively for leisure, not work. As with my comments above in regards to our Psions, one is not more productive by having a camera phone compared to say one's older camera-less phone, as long as our criteria for productivity does not change. For me, the camera is a lifestyle, where, as a device you would always carry with you, it is nice to be able to take impromptu pictures and has come in useful in a number of occasions; to give an

example: a friend and I had booked a Karaoke room in Bangkok one night, a couple of friends were coming to join us. Sometime later that evening, I received a call from one of them saying they couldn't find the place and the driver hasnt heard of the place before. Since, none of us spoke good enough Thai to convey directions to the driver, I went out of the building, took a couple of snapshots of the surrounding area, and send them to my friend. Bingo, the driver, upon viewing the pics, recognised the place and brought them safely to the destination.

Warm regards,

Koi Hin

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 12:27:32 +0100

From: koihin

Subject: RE: Berries et al (Off Topic)

To all following the above thread:

>>Are you all giving him the Razzberry? :-)<<

>> I learned that size is nxot everything << >Thus Halleberry

haha, berry funny!

Cheers,

Koi Hin

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 17:41:03 +0100

From: martin

Subject: Re: WinCE

Reply to: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: WinCE

>>On this Digest we all enjoy our Psions with EPOC, but unfortunately it is a dying OS. Even versions higher than 5 are not real EPOC computers as we know it with ER5, lacking functionality in the built-in apps and third party apps.<<

I know your intention is good, but please keep things separate. The issue you are addressing is that there are currently no device manufacturers that are marketing netBook/5mx type devices with EPOC.

That is a far cry from saying that EPOC is dying. The facts are:

- EPOC has never had as much functionality as it has now. NO functionality whatsoever has been removed if you compare ER5 and ER7s (the latest version). ALL the functionalities we are used to from netBook/5mx type devices are still there, it just that it is up to the various user interface designers whether or not they wish to make use of them.

- there have never existed as many developers, software houses, system integrators etc dedicated for EPOC as there are now.

- there have never existed as many EPOC devices in the world as there are now.

- EPOC has never enjoyed as high a market share as it does now. In fact, some people have recently said (for example the CEO of Opera) that EPOC might in the near future *outsell* Windows (all flavours included) in terms of unit sales. If this happens it is the first time since the late 80s that Windows has been *dethroned* as the best selling OS. And, times are a-changing, it would be the first time in computing history that a non-US OS would reach such status - indeed by a very cosmopolitan one if you look at the shareholders (UK, US, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Germany).

In other words EPOC, is thriving more than it's ever done before.

But you are right on one point of course. We feel that there is a device missing in the market place which incorporates the more PDA oriented features of the OS, i.e. Word, Sheet etc.

The netBook petition is - I think - the first time the EPOC community has sort of put a stake in the ground and unified to express a market demand.

This is why it is so important - even for those that might disagree with certain aspects or wording of the petition - that everyone in the community supports it.

It's a bit like politics, there is never a party or politician you can completely agree with, but you tend to vote with the one that is closest to what you feel is right for your country or EU or whatever.

The petition is YOUR VOTE for the continued existence of more netBook/5mx-like devices based on EPOC/Symbian OS.

cheers

Martin Maxwell

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 19:42:54 +0100

From: koihin

Subject: RE: REAL alternatives to the Netbook?

Reply to: Chris S Handley

CH> To me it seems these (Tablet PCs) are finally coming close to replacing the Netbook, because all of them are small & have a high (for laptops) battery life. Now, don't get me wrong, the Netbooks still manages to get up to double the battery life, is slightly smaller & more conventient, and weighs a bit less, but you DO have to make some compromises to replace the Netbook!

To the above list I would like to add that in the sub-notebook category, the netBook has one of the best keyboards, it is also more rugged than a typical notebook. It also generates a lot less heat than a typical notebook. The netBook is instant-On/Off, with negligble battery usage when Off.

In terms of battery life, nowadays it is not too difficult to find in the subnotebook category, long-life batteries that can extend the life-span to 8hrs or more. However considering the fact that the netBook is instant On/0ff, you will be wasting valuable juice starting up or down. Quite a few of the sub-notebooks are actually lighter than the netBook too. Some maufacturers have, even before the WinXP for tablets been offering touchscreens for their notebooks, notably Fujitsu. This functions in the same way as the netBook's touchscreen. one advantage of note for some tablet PCs, is that they are pressure sensitive, so all you Picassos can now now work on your masterpieces during the weekly department meetings.

For me personally, the current crop of notebooks are a less than ideal alternative for the above reasons that I have stated. Also in my case, I use my netBook as my 'away' machine, having a full-fledged access to a PC in the office and home negates some of the benefits of going with Windows-based system and makes other areas like mobility and PDA-like functions more important. I would much prefer to see current PDAs evolve to fill the niche that the netBook is in. Consumers in Japan may agree with me, given the popularity of the Sharp Zaurus C700 and I dare say the Sony PEG-UX50 will do quite well on the market as well. Whether or not this will come to pass, time will tell. Until then, Psion On!

Warm Regards,

Koi Hin

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Date: 2 Aug 2003 20:47:41 +0100

From: koihin

Subject: Re. Upgrading mobile phone

Reply to: Itamar Engelsman

Dear Itamar,

IE> Re. Upgrading mobile phone - Time for an upgrade again as my wife would like to take over my 6310i to use the hands free car unit we have for this phone (my car now has bluetooth). There are a lot of possibilities like P800, T610, Sharp and Panasonic models. I am not into the thrills of "on board" cameras and picture sending from my phone, but GPRS and Bluetooth are both a must and a more attractive screen would be nice. Any bright ideas anyone or good advice ? Thanks in advance.

In terms of connectivity (Bluetooth, IrDA, GPRS, HSCSD), the T610 performs very well with my Psions and Windows PC/laptop. The onboard email client also works well. Another advantage of the T610 (this applies to most SE phones) if you use a Windows laptop/PC, is the ease of which you can use the phone to control functions on your PC through Bluetooth. during Powerpoint Presentations, I use my phone as a remote to control the presentation, at home I use it to manipulate my Music jukebox, all this while moving around. you will also find the T610 shorter and more compact than your Nokia 6310i. Pesonally I find the styling of the T610 very tasteful.

Unfortunately I do not have experience with the other current phones, so i cant recommend one over the others.

warm regards,

Koi Hin

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Date: 3 Aug 2003 01:56:23 +0100

From: Jaan Sass

Subject: Re: Revo Form-Factor Successor...

What is a Dana? It is funny I thought also at first that the psion 7 would be to big for me. I had owned a sharp wizard, and a Diamond Mako (usa revo) prior. Now my Psion 7 goes with me everywhere including the bathroom. I find it to be light wieght and a great resource and sometimes an object for discussion. In the US you do not see many Psion or symbian products.

> From: Jaan Sass > Subject: Revo Form-Factor Successor

> >

> >I still think the Psion7/Netbook is a worthy successor

> to Revo/Psion 5mx.

> The reason many of us chose the Revo (even with its

> shortcommings) is its smaller size and lighter

> weight...for me the 5mx was too big, bulky, clumsy, and

> heavy (the 5mx is almost TWICE the weight as the Revo).

> So if a 5mx is too big to lug around, the 7/nB platform

> is definately out of the question!

> I did look at Dana for a while because it would be great

> for typing outside, but again too big for carrying

> around. Instead I bought a 3xe and a folding keyboard,

> and now I use the Palm more than the Revo.

> But last week when I saw the mention of the Sony Clie

> Peg-UX50 mentioned here as a Revo successor I had to

> have a look, and that was the machine I will be buying

> in future (it's about the same size as the Revo (more

> square though) and it's even LIGHTER). Sure it would be

> perfect if it ran the Symbian OS (actually, it's been

> rumoured that OS5 was the PalmOS with the Symbian

> kernel) but what's the use of a Symbian OS machine if

> it's too big

> to use.

> People here are probably wondering why I don't get the

> Nokia 9290 (US 9210) or the Sony P800...well, the 9290

> only works in major cities in Canada, and the Sony is

> only stylus based (yes the Palm 3xe is stylus based but

> I also have the keyboard for it). And anyway, I have no

> use for a cellphone (only used one twice in my life) so

> why pay for radiation I won't be using...and

> it would be a waste of money if I could disable it.

> Mike

Bye bye

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Date: 3 Aug 2003 01:56:35 +0100

From: Jaan Sass

Subject: Re: REAL alternatives to the Netbook?

I dont know for me Psion 7/netbook is a great alternative. I personally could never afford a new machine anyway. I bought my Psion 7 for $400 dollars a year ago. I have upgraded it and added software since. I could never afford a new ibook. I probably would not buy a netbook until the prices begin to drop on ebay. I like being able to use the pen instead of a mouse or drag pad which would drive me crazy. My Psion 7 fullfills all my needs. The other reason I like it is because I like the epoc os. It is simple and easy to play with. Windows puts me off and I do not know much about Linux though it also fascinates me. For me it will be a sad day when my machine breaks down. I hope by then POS or someone else will be able to do repairs. The only machines I view as a possible alternative are the Zaurus's made by sharp or the Nokia 9290 communicator. Both of them are similiar but the keyboards or not very good.

> Hello all,

> With Simon Wolf announcing he is leaving Psions for

> hardware that is able to fulfil his needs, in particular

> ditching his Netbook for an iBook, I thought it might be

> interesting to discuss what REAL alternatives there are

> to the Netbook.

> Now, in my opinion a 12inch iBook comes close (3-4 hour

> battery

> life(?), and very small size), I still find it lacking

> in the way every other laptop does: You are expected to

> torture yourself using the 'drag pad' to move the mouse

> pointer.

> About 12 months ago a new type of PC laptop came out,

> known as Tablet PC, all of which have touch screens, and

> most interestingly of all is that a few also come with

> keyboards. I've termed these as Clamshell Tablet PCs,

> for want of a better word.

> And most interesting of all is that although Tablet PCs

> were initially very over-priced (e.g. 2000 British

> pounds), over the last year their price has plummeted,

> and some in particular have dropped even more recently

> since they are going to be replaced by newer models.

> The Acer TravelMate C102Ti falls in this category, now

> costing only 1000 pounds, and is what I ended-up getting

> a couple of months ago. In addition, it has a

> particularly good battery life (3.5 hours),

> while also being light (1.5Kg) and have a fairly good

> performance.

> To me it seems these (Tablet PCs) are finally coming

> close to replacing the Netbook, because all of them are

> small & have a high (for laptops) battery life. Now,

> don't get me wrong, the Netbooks still manages to get up

> to double the battery life, is slightly smaller & more

> conventient, and weighs a bit less, but you DO have to

> make some compromises to replace the Netbook!

> Now, using the Epoc Emulator, I get a fairly good

> imitation of a Netbook (well, one with a bright 800x600

> display & 20Gb C drive:-) right down to the touch

> screen. And with my virtually finished FastBackup

> program, it is very feasible for me to swap my 1Gb

> Microdrive between Netbook & Tablet PC, and share all my

> files (inc C drive).

> I've posted some of my thoughts and experiences here,

> should you want a bit more info:

> http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18182

> What other alternatives are there? Netbook Pro running

> WinCE? I'm not convinced WinCE is sufficiently good to

> justify the high price of a Netbook Pro. Better Tablet

> PCs?

> ---

> Chris Handley

Bye bye

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Date: 3 Aug 2003 04:06:41 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: Re: Earthlink as an ISP

Tim & Tony,

I have set up on Earthlink for my Treo 90, 5mx (and Makos) and Dana - all the same and all very straight forward (C$erve should be so easy).

<<I have in my server listing:

pop.earthlink.net for incoming email,

stmp.earthlink.net for outgoing email.

I do recall that they recommend the addition of ELN before one or both of those server ids. >>

My outgoing (SMTP) an incoming (POP3) settings are

both:

mail.earthlink.net

In my internet settings, my Username is preceeded by

eln/

eln/jimwatsongove

Where I had trouble initially as with the primary and secondary DNS address settings. They are different from C$erve

Primary: 207.217.126.81

Secondary: 207.217.120.83

jim - port townsend, washington

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Date: 3 Aug 2003 16:34:26 +0100

From: robertsont

Subject: P7 CF disk tray

Dear All,

Crisis! I wonder if this one has come up before... While removing a CF disk from my P7, the whole tray detatched itself from the machine! Nothing appears to have snapped/broken but the tray will not return to its correct position (it only goes half way into the machine - not enough for the card to actually go into the machine at all). I tried to run a disk without the tray in and it worked fine but after trying again, the disk now appears to be corrupt.