Epocdigest V1 # 372

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Epoc Digest Tue, 28 Oct 2003 Volume 01 : Number 372

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Sent to: 793 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 12 messages:

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- Re: netBook Pro Symbian

- Re: Program List

- Re: Sony Clie UX50

- PsiCards Warning!

- RealPlayer to WMA or mp3 converter

- Re: Microsoft (changed subject)

- New Nokia 9xxx

- Re: NetPad pro coming

- ISP lockup, STD access no., Nokia taking up Psion's mantle

- Re: xray machine at airport

- Re: 5mx to the rescue?

- MBM view, Netbook for sale

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

Date: 26 Oct 2003 11:02:16 +0000

From: Chris S Handley

Subject: Re: netBook Pro Symbian

Hi Itamar,

> Re. netBook Pro Symbian - You wrote:

>> I think it is quite likely that a lot of the EPOC program authors who

>> have moved to Symbian would be very keen on porting their EPOC

>> programs (if not already done) to Symbian

I also said that I was essentially just repeating what I heard from someone else, so I'm afraid I can't comment on what assumptions were being made. But basically, software is not NECESSARILY going to be a problem.

Especially if OPL was ported (which I think is always assumed). Quite likely, OPL programs written for ER6/7 phones would work immediately on the Symbian Netbook Pro. (have you read the changes made since ER5? they are quite small and/or benign.) /p>

> That will depend entirely on whether the machine will be in general

> sales or only a special order. If it will not be readily available

> with few numbers sold it will not be worth their while to do so.

If it would be so few numbers sold, why would Psion sell the device in the first place? So we *have* to work on the assumption it would sell relatively well! If we get into the "chicken & egg" dilema, we'll never have a new Netbook OR s ftware for it!

But looking at it from the POV of my previous post, (apparently) many Symbian developers would keen on owning such a device, and I can certainly see the attraction of porting one's own apps to a device one owns, especially if the effort required is sma l (which it may well be - the only difference is the GUI toolkit, or perhaps not even that).

> Also, if it will not be a platform for

> further development with a future, why should they ?

I don't understand this statement! If it was based on ER7, *why* wouldn't it be developed further? If Symbian produce ER8, surely it will only be a minor step to port the ER7 GUI toolkit & device drivers for the Netbook?

Unlike the step from ER5 to ER6/7, the target devices won't be changing, and therefore radical changes are unlikely - more likely it'll just add more features & tweak the GUI to keep-up with Micro$oft's latest offering.

> And do we all have to pay again for the upgrade or not ?

I think the answer to that is obvious: Yes, but how much depends on the developers.

In the end, the reason for us to upgrade to a Symbian Netbook Pro, rather than a WinCE/etc device, is not financial, but rather ease of data transfer & familiarity with the software. Plus we know how reliable & easy to use Symbian is :-)< p>

Regards,

Chris Handley

P.S. Yes, I do think the changes of a Symbian Netbook Pro are small, but if we give-up without trying, then the chance is *zero*!

P.P.S. I don't understand why you *seem* to have such a "vendetta" against a Symbian Netbook Pro. You remind me of someone else who was VERY negative about the chances of it. Can't we just "live and let live"?

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

Date: 26 Oct 2003 14:14:24 +0000

From: "Thomas Ullrich"

Subject: Re: Program List

Hi all!

We at PsionWelt compiled two lists from feedback of our forum readers (59 entries) and got the PsionWelt Top 100 Lists.

One are only third party programs, the second is wiht the internal apps like Agenda or Sheet ...

Please feel free to look at it here: http://www.psionwelt.de/workshop/PW_Top100_2003.htm

Ciao

Thomas

PsionWelt.net

Mobile2Day.net

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

Date: 26 Oct 2003 14:41:28 +0000

From: Wong Koi Hin

Subject: Re: Sony Clie UX50

Dear Nicole,

do give us your impressions of the UX-50 after you have had time to use it for a while.

Warm regards,

Koi Hin

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

Date: 26 Oct 2003 16:46:52 +0000

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: PsiCards Warning!

Hi Fer,

you wrote:

> Good thing I did because i found not only the COFFEE solitaire

> cardgame available but also PSICards with 6 games in one programme,

> which I downloaded straightaway. <

Be careful when using PsiCards - it is certainly a very appealing app with nice graphics, good games and easy to use.

There is just one tiny little bug:

When you play, the touchscreen can suddenly stop to respond. You should then cose or kill the program!

If instead you switch off the Psion and switch it on again, everything might work again (if you're lucky). If you are less lucky the screen will be blank and you will have to take recourse to a soft-reset. If you have totally run out of luck then even soft-reset won't bring you're Psion back to life. And you are left with the joys of a hard-reset! (Especially delightful when you're last back-up has been a long time ago) So unless you like your cardgames with a good dose of Russian roulette - BEWARE of PsiCards !

Astrid

(who learned about this bug the hard way)

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

Date: 26 Oct 2003 18:16:22 +0000

From: Saj T. Jumaani

Subject: RealPlayer to WMA or mp3 converter

Hello everyone!

Does anyone know of a free program that converts audio files played in Real Player format to WMA or mp3 please. Thanks!

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

Date: 26 Oct 2003 22:41:17 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Microsoft (changed subject)

Chris S Handley wrote:-

<< Similarly, it might be more forgivable, if Microsoft products were high-quality & well-designed, yet major security flaws are designed into most of their software products (for no good reason), and it has taken them god knows how many gene ations of software to products a half-decent set of apps & OS. >>

Could it be that Microsoft have a very good reason for these security flaws. Spam and virus e-mails, in my case, exceed in Mbs the size of e-mails and digest mails received here. I guess it's the same elsewhere.

Microsoft sell servers, which need to be able to handle more bandwidth to handle this junk.

Alan.

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

Date: 27 Oct 2003 04:42:06 +0000

From: Martin Maxwell

Subject: New Nokia 9xxx

Answer to: Ajai Khattri

Subject: New Nokia 9xxx?

>>>There's a rumor going round that Nokia is going to announce a

>>>successor to the 9210 next week. Apparently the new machine will have

>>>a touchscreen and a stylus - maybe this machine will replace my aging

>>>Psions...<<<

Indeed, though I am not sure if the announcement will be made before year's end. A more 'PDA-like' Communicator has been in the works for several years.

When the announcement comes, it will also shown how mis-informed those people are who have been spreading confusion by saying things to the effect of 'Nokia will abandon Communicators and go for Nokia 6800-type devices'.

It is also clear that Nokia is putting much more emphasis on the enterprise with their new restructuring exercise, so a more versatile Communicator was expected.

If Series 90 meets what it promises, this might be another user interface alternative for a proposed netBook Pro Symbian.

kind regards

Martin Maxwell

Kuala Lumpur

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

Date: 27 Oct 2003 07:57:01 +0000

From: michael robins

Subject: Re: NetPad pro coming

Well...

It was MY lack of knowledge that led me to ask if there was a Netpad with WinCE O/S.

I now know there is such a beast since last year. My next question is where can I buy one (one only) for our company to evaluate ? (preferably in the UK, but Europe is OK ;-) We want the one with WiFi so probably the netpad 5000 (I think). (We are NOT big enough to request 50 let alone 500!)

MikeR

PS to Chris Handley

I enjoyed your MS rant and agree with most of what you said, still as this is not a MS digest I have refrained from comment. (I hope this PS does not add fuel to the fire :-)

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

Date: 27 Oct 2003 14:43:07 +0000

From: Simon Jeffree

Subject: ISP lockup, STD access no., Nokia taking up Psion's mantle

Hi everybody,

Subject: ISP lockup:

I've read a lot about some ISPs causing people's EPOC machines to lock up.

I've been suffering the same on my 5mx, with Virgin.net but not with my various Freeserve accounts.

The lock-up is complete. Neither the touchscreen, nor the keyboard respond at all. All I can do to clear it is a soft reset with a paper-clip.

I've no idea why it's happening & why only with some ISPs, but the other question is why should the whole machine lock up? I thought EPOCs excellent pre-emptive multitasking & memory management was designed to prevent such occurrences, by isolating each program from the others, so that problems with one one do not affect the others. Perhaps it's occurring in some bit of code in the kernel. Whatever, it can only be occurring because of a bug somewhere in EPOC - some strange set f conditions not being handled cleanly. It's a shame, but there's not a lot we can do about it, other than change

ISPs.

Subject: STD access no.:

Because of this problem, I've had to stop using Virgin.net. The reason I used them in the first place is that they have a UK STD access number (01483) 881766, which is therefore included in my free muniutes allowance on my T-Mobile contract (all 8*** numbers are not inclusive with T-Mobile).

So I'm clocking up rather more costs than I'd like & I'll end up wasting my free minutes.

My question is, what other free UK ISPs are there which have an STD access number (i.e. one which begins 01***, rather than 08***). I think I remember Clara Net do but I don't know the number & having looked at their website,

they don't seem to offer free access (i.e. where you only pay for the phone call, from which they take their slice).

Can anyone help?

Subject: Nokia taking up Psion's mantle

An interesting rumour appeared on www.theregister.co.uk on Friday.

Apparently, Nokia are soon to announce their plans to produce a replacement for the 9210, codenamed Hildon.

The interesting thing is, they're introducing a new UI for it, designated 'Series 90', with both pen & keyboard input, and the assumption that Nokia are hoping that it will be more widely licensed than the existing 'Series 80'.

I wasn't aware that series 80 was open to other licensees, but if series 90 is, then maybe there's hope yet, that someone, Nokia or any other, may take up the mantle dropped by Psion when they withdrew from the market.

Probably wishful thinking, but hey, we can all dream can't we.

All the best,

Simon Jeffree

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

Date: 27 Oct 2003 18:08:44 +0000

From: Terry Gordon

Subject: Re: xray machine at airport

Strange one. I picked up my Malaybook after it went through the xray machine and it started honking and beeping! I did a quick reset and that didn't stop it. I pulled out the rechargeable battery and that did stop it and of course, a ard reset. Anyone else have something like this happen? Probably just a fluke. TG

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

Date: 27 Oct 2003 23:30:57 +0000

From: Korbinian

Subject: Re: 5mx to the rescue?

Hi Itamar

> Re.: 5mx to the rescue? - Just out of interest,

> how much CF-disk space would one need for an

> interview of let's say 30 minutes using a 5MX ?

You could even record in MP3 format if you want to save memory! The App is named ENoteM and is written by Alexander Zavorine (www.zavorine.com/epoc). It can also handle (and connvet) wav and epoc-sound files! I don't know how much storage mp3 needs but you can choose between '11.025kHz 8kbps' and '16kHz 16kbps'.

Very nice!!

regards

Korbinian

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

Date: 28 Oct 2003 02:17:32 +0000

From: Scott Lloyd

Subject: MBM view, Netbook for sale

Friends,

first of all I want to thank all the great support I recieved in my search for this tool. I understand the author as passed on, God bless him. This forum has some of the nicest people I have ever encountered, and I would like to thank all of you

for your support. Second : I have a brand new Netbook bought on ebay (Malaysia Netbook) I purchased this machine as a backup for my primary Netbook if something goes wrong, the only thing I have done in install clone apps that I have on my main netbook colormagic,rmr extended to-do mananger..Great program. Is also has plan5, and mobile pocket

reader. The machine is still so new its hard to open, everything is tight. I paid 499.00 on ebay plus 20.00 dollars shipping. I am offering this to my friends in the digest for 450.00 plus shipping, thats a great deal for a netbook! This netbook as no scratches and is in perfect shape. If nobody wants this machine its going on ebay. To be fair I will sell to the first buyer. your friend in Texas scott ll