Epocdigest V1 # 398

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Epoc Digest Fri, 12 Dec 2003 Volume 01 : Number 398

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Sent to: 780 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 22 messages:

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- MBook Questions, Et Tu Brute, Stuff for Sale

- Zero Byte Files

- Disclaimers

- Re: Epoc Digest 396

- Palm OS5 vs. OS6/ Progress

- editor.txt, Agenda problems,

- Copying Abode PDF file to Psion 5MX

- AGENDA PROBLEMS

- Psion Journal

- Sony Clie UX-50

- Re: Backups Again

- Re: Hard reset

- Re: Problem installing Opera on Revo / Mako

- Spontaneous switch on after alarms

- Avoiding empty files

- EMail Locking up

- EMail Failing

- Using SD cards/Memory Sticks/Smart Media cards on Series 7

- Spam and worse

- FoxPop Seasonal Sale

- EMail Lockup

- Re: Disclaimers

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

Date: 10 Dec 2003 20:07:59 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: MBook Questions, Et Tu Brute, Stuff for Sale

I finally caved. Checked on the internet and found (and ordered) a Malay Book for $495.20 (includes shipping to US). The following questions have probably been answered many times and I apologize for the repitition (never thought I'dmove up from the 5mx so haven:t been paying attention)..

1. The MBook comes with a 200-240 V power cube. Where do I get a 110 unit?

(I guess I can read the output specs, match the plug and but something from Radio Shack, but you guys have already addressed this I assume).

2. Someone said that the flash card in the 5mx will not work on the MBook (or NetBook). Is this so? What kind of flash memory should I look for (for

backup)?

3. I am not really a power user. I assume that I can IR word, agenda, sheet, data, etc back and forth between the MBook and the 5mx.

4. Plain vanilla PsiWin work or do I load up another version?

That was a facinating exchange concerning Caesar and Brutus. I had read about the adoption years ago in Grave's "I Claudius". By the way, chasing through Shakespear's plays you find that he did a tremendous amount of research and adapted history etc for the benefit of the play. I am sure Willy knew about the adoption but felt his adaptation made better drama. He would have kept

his notes in an Psion had they been available (requisite Psion content).

Will be selling off the Dana (w/sw) the Treo 90 (w/sw) and some QRP (low

power) ham transceivers to help pay for the MBook, in case anyone on list is interested (contact me off-list please).

jim - port townsend

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

Date: 10 Dec 2003 21:28:52 +0100

From: Philip S. Adkins Potter

Subject: Zero Byte Files

Hi,

Ian Chapple's apparent backup problem with the text editor may actually be with the backup utility trying to copy a zero byte file (created by the program when it opens). One solution is to open a default file, put something in it and save it, set it to "Read -only" (it can be in C:/Documents, of course) and reopen it as EPOC will remember what file was last used (unless reset). It will try to open that file but if it has since been deleted the program will either create that file or a default file or ask. In the case of the text editor, and maybe other programs, that will be an empty (0 bytes) default file.

Zero byte files can cause all sorts of problems in many OSs if they, or their associated programs or the OS itself, do not cater for them. Good old DOS had this problem. Most EPOC programs and utilities cope effortlessly but Ian's problems are with trying to transmit zero byte files, something I haven't (luckily) done as all my backups are zip files. Comms programs usually have cross-platform capabilities using basic protocols many years old. These often do not like zero byte files.

Consequently the problem is probably not the backup program or regimen in use but the way the OS handles (or fails to handle) transmitting/receiving zero byte files.

I hope that helps.

Good luck,

Phil.

"Censorship, like charity, should begin at home:

but, unlike charity, it should end there.

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

Date: 10 Dec 2003 21:38:56 +0100

From: ian chapple

Subject: Disclaimers

Idris,

I'm impressed by the fact that your company disclaimer was about 10 times as big as your actual email. Sorry I can't help you with your Agenda problem though.

Hope you get some more practical help for your problem, cheers, Ian.

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

Date: 10 Dec 2003 23:00:29 +0100

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest 396

Timothy H.D. Williams wrote:-

> The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the

> day they start making vacuum cleaners.

Timothy, I normally don't approve of criticism using words such as 'suck', but I had a loud laugh at this. Very apt.

But it will look nice and stop working after a little use until you switch it off and on again. So efficient that using a brush & pan would be faster.

Alan.

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

Date: 10 Dec 2003 23:14:34 +0100

From: adam north

Subject: Palm OS5 vs. OS6/ Progress

Hello All,

Peter Rand wrote:

"So if you're contemplating a Palm, now is probably a good time to wait and

see how the new models perform before making a decision."

Good and bad news! I want my new PDA, but now have to wait!!! I guess

there is never a good time to leap onto a moving object.

Owen Morgan wrote (regarding the failings of Psion):

"Unreliable synchronisation with desktop software."

This has been my main problem with Psions. I use MS for work, and was sold

on the idea of 'seamless synchronisation.' After I tried it - missing

formatting, graphics etc. - I was incredibly disappointed, but soldiered on.

Then my work laptop changed from a Windows 2000 machine to Windows XP:

suddenly multiple attachments to Email 'disappear' in the synchronisation

process.

In every other aspect, I think the 5 is a great machine. However, it seems

to me that the surrounding world is moving on, and - sooner or later - using

one for my job will be more a labour of love, than a means of efficient

working. This is at least the case for me!

I think this is the biggest frustration: the OS is efficient, and trouble

free. However, it's only being used on Smart Phones - which I don't want.

Should a Symbian colour, USB, Native MS document support PDA be available,

then I'd be fighting to be first in the queue....

With best regards,

RoyM

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

Date: 10 Dec 2003 23:56:19 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: editor.txt, Agenda problems,

Answer to: Ian Chapple

Re.: editor.txt - I use the Symbian editor quite often but neve had this file created on my S7. So I opened a text file, used save-as and closed the text file again and indeed I also got a 0 size file. My answer would be either not to use save-as but save, alternatively to use both to avoid the zero size file.

Answer to: Crumlish, Idris

Re. Agenda problems - No promisses, but sometimes it helps to try and open a new Agenda file and merge the old one into the new one.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 11 Dec 2003 09:55:22 +0100

From: Nigel Bonnett

Subject: Copying Abode PDF file to Psion 5MX

Hi, anybody know how I can get a large PDF file from my PC to my Psion in a form that I can read on the Psion. I have the free space and have got the file to appear on my Psion but it didn't recognise the file type when I tried to open it. Convert didn't seem to work either.

Thanks Nigel Bonnett

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

Date: 11 Dec 2003 11:31:09 +0100

From: Crumlish, Idris

Subject: AGENDA PROBLEMS

Hi all,

Apologies for re-posting but the error message did not appear last time (my mistake)

I recently experienced a problem with Agenda

Program starts to open file then generates the following error message:

***************************************************

Program closed

Program Agenda

Reason code E32USER-CBase

Reason number 8 ***************************************************

I normally back-up every day, however this happened on the one day I ran out of time & did not run backup.

Does anyone know whether this is recoverable as I have lost a full days diary

Any help will be gratefully received

Regards,

Idris

Idris Crumlish

Specifier Services, Glasgow

Tel: 0141 425 4800

Fax: 0141 445 0122

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

Date: 11 Dec 2003 15:10:19 +0100

From: Philip Carlisle

Subject: Psion Journal

Dear All

A month or so ago contributors were asking where the first edition of the Psion journal was. have not received a copy yet, despite subscribing for a year, and have not enjoyed the courtesy of any reply from will green at the Society address.

Am I alone, or (sorry to have to express this) have we all been ripped off in the Nigerian manner??

Regards

Philip Carlisle

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

Date: 11 Dec 2003 21:25:21 +0100

From: "Nicole Carbonara"

Subject: Sony Clie UX-50

Reply to Ray J

Ray

>> Could you give us a review of the UX50 & how it compares to the 5mx? It certainly looks impressive, but I'd be interested to know what it's like for someone used to the Psion. <<

This palmtop is at the same time a jump in the future (size and weight, splendid screen, WiFi - Bluetooth) and a step back in the middle ages (Operating system)

- Very small and light - even smaller than the Revo, no to mention the 5mx that I "retired" long ago because it was so heavy and bulky

- Very sharp colour screen which bears lots of data that can be comfortably read - it makes the Psion's screens look antique

- The UX50 _HAS_ a keyboard. Nothing like the excellent Psions ones but at least there _is_ a keyboard and it has a backlight. The keys are very hard indeed. No way I can take notes in a conference at high speed, as I used to use the Psions for but, let's be positive, it will muscle my fingers and improve my piano practice.

- WiFi & Bluetooth built in which is a major improvement compared to the Psions (BTW it has also Infrared so that it can work with the Psion IR

modem)

- Real Internet access, with pictures and all, which is also a major improvement compared to the Psions

- Takes my email as fast as my laptop

- Palm OS i.e. dreadful compared to Epoc but I suppose I shall get used to it, as I would get used to almost anything

- The battery life seems very good, except when using WiFi

- It takes memory sticks compatible with my Vaio laptop and Cybershot camera - Just a reader for Word & Excel (and lots of other applics) which means that I'll have to purchase software to be able to process my Microsoft files - Intellisync Lite that allows synchronizing with Outlook 2003 is less advanced than PsiWin 2.3. If you want to process several calendars and contact folders you have to buy the full version or some other software.

- A few goodies that I am not really interested in such as: camera, movie camera, MP3 player, sound recorder

Nicole

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

Date: 11 Dec 2003 23:19:25 +0100

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Backups Again

Andy Hayes wrote:-

> Backups continue to frustrate me. Is anyone on the list

> backing up one file automatically each day?

....

> I could probably write something in

> OPL for use with Chris Handley's FastBackup. All it has to do

> is the following: -

> See if D:\My Stuff\Diary2003 is open

> If it is close it

> Copy it to E:\Backup replacing the last one in there

> CronTab could do the clever timing bit if necessary

I use PsiWin 2.3.3 on W98 to backup my Psions 3a, 5mx, Revo+, 7 & nB. I then use PKzip on each of the folders PsiWin produces. I use a batch file, with a desktop icon to run PKzip once for each Psion. These then get copied to CD-RW, again by batch file.

My new laptop (to replace the 486DX2) does not have serial ports and I can't get the USB/serial to work. So I will (when it replaces the W98 desktop) use the USB/CF2 card reader that I now use to copy pictures taken by my 3 cameras. I'll get the files onto CF as I do now with Chris Handley's FastBackup on my 7.

FastBackup is very good as it's an incremental type of backup. It does not waste time backingup a file that has not changed and deletes files that have been deleted. (so keep a copy of previous backups if you might want to recover a deleted/changed file)

The only real drawback with FastBackup, is that if you have a complex Email set of folders with e-mails and faxes, it is not fast when working on Email folders. The same applies to the OS search, so it's not Chris's fault.

It will also close open apps and then open them at the end.

FastBackup can backup all files on a disk or only just one. You only have to configure it to copy the files you want.

As for the two windows type of backup. I used to use Laplink, but since changing from DOS to Windows, Laplink has gradually changed to become a different type of program and it's original use has become unusable. I don't know of a replacement.

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 02:31:24 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Hard reset

Hi Susan,

Sorry for the late reply,

> New 5mx problem. Machine turns on (on/off key works) but keyboard is otherwise not working so I can't enter password. Soft reset doesn't help and I can't figure out how to make it do a hard reset. I suppose I can take out the batteries and replace them. Is this the dreaded screen cable problem? <

Can't help you with the keyboard but if you want to do a hard reset without removing the batteries (which would work) you can do a soft reset AND press both Shift-buttons and Esc to turn it on..

Good luck,

Astrid

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 02:31:26 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Problem installing Opera on Revo / Mako

Hi John,

sorry for the late reply,

> When trying to install Opera onto my Mako, the installation stalls at the stage "Installing to C:\System\libs\OprModel.dll" and goes no further. This is a reinstallation after deleting a previous time-barred free PDA edition. I uninstalled & removed all traces of the previous version. <

It shouldn't be a registration problem. If you're over the trial period you might not be able to launch an application without registering but not be prevented from installing it anew.

Could it be a memory problem? The file you mention is 2MB of size - quite a lot for an istallation on a Mako/ Revo especially for an onboard installation since you would need abut the same amount of space for unpacking from a zipped file.

Check your available memory and free some space. As mentioned in recent digests: zExe can compress this file to 800 kb - highly recommended.

Hope this helps,

Astrid

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 02:31:28 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Spontaneous switch on after alarms

Hello,

When I delete a running alarm and then switch off the psion it often happens that it turns on again about a minute later - not the alarm, just the psion. Has it something to do with AlarmPlus? Has someone else experienced this bug?

Cheers,

Astrid

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 02:31:30 +0100

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Avoiding empty files

Ian Chapple wrote:

> ... I recently noticed that if an empty file is present in the backup folder on my 5mx, transferring this by IR causes the netBook to perform a soft reset; this is typically caused by having used the Symbian Text Editor, which often (always!) produces the file "c:\documents\editor.txt", which is left empty if you use the "save as..." command. ... <

Hi Ian,

why don't you simply get used to leave apps with Ctl + Shift + E when you have selected the 'save as' option?

Astrid

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 04:26:07 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: EMail Locking up

Went to pick up my EMail tonight and when I performed a control shift C, I got a message saying something about possible overload and the machine (my 5mx) locked up.

I did a soft reset and tried again. This time no message but it locked up.

I reset and selected Tools/account settings and it locked up with a continuous flashing message, " opening account settings". Had to reset to unfreeze the machine.

Any suggestions other that a hard boot and restoring settings.

My wife got wind that I had ordered an MBook (I told her) and her reaction was "me too!!!" so ordered a second MBook. Two Makos, two 5mx, a classic 5 and

now two MBooks. This is getting ridiculous (but fun).

More on Julius and Brutus. Graves quotes Augustus's Sybylline Curiosities (and I partially quote). This refers to Julius:

---The steed he rides shall have toes for hooves.

He shall die at the hand of his son, no son.

And not on the field of war---

Graves goes on to explain in the voice of Claudius:

"--Julius escaped alive from many hard-fought battles only to be murdered at last, in the Senate House, by Brutus. And Brutus. though fathered on another, was believed to be Julius's natural son: "Thou too, child!" said Julius, as Brutus came at him with a dagger---"

Graves is considered an historian of rank as well as a novelist, and is respected for his scholarship in going to the original Greek and Latin mss for historical details.

jim - port townsend using his Mako and contemplating a hard reset

ps Just tried to download into my Mako and the same thing hapened to the Mako.

I copied down the .message this time

"Information

Display may be temporarily incomplete

Overflow"

Then the Mako locked up.

I will try to upload this without doing a download. A virus for Psions???

Don't understand the locking up. Will try a download fom the Dana tomorrow.

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 04:31:24 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: EMail Failing

The upload went ok but after successfully uploading the last message, I tried to open the mailbox. No error message - the Mko simply froze up.

More tests tomorow. I hope Earthlink hasn't made a potocol change ala CompuServe that's screwing up POP3 mail.

jim - port townsend

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 07:51:46 +0100

From: Peter Rand

Subject: Using SD cards/Memory Sticks/Smart Media cards on Series 7

The other day I was in an electronics store and picked up a "SanDisk 4-in-1 PC Card Adapter" for my Series 7 for about EUR 40.

The PC Card Adapter fits in the 7's "E" drive, and makes it possible to use SD cards, MMC cards, Memory Sticks and Smart Media cards in the Series 7.

The "SanDisk 4-in-1 PC Card Adapter" works very well on the Psion right out of the box, and I can now easily transfer photos from my various digital cameras to the Series 7 for emailing.

I also have the impression that the SD card is much faster than the CF card.

Peter

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 11:21:47 +0100

From: Anthony Napier

Subject: Spam and worse

Hi all

After year of trouble free e mailing with various Psions I now get almost daily unwanted mail "e.g. see my webcam!". I'm aware of PC antispam solutions but what can Psion users do to stop this?

Secondly what is happening about the "freezing problem many of us had a few months ago. I changed ISP and had no more trouble but I never understood what the problem was.

Tony

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 12:03:52 +0100

From: Martin Guthrie

Subject: FoxPop Seasonal Sale

Elizabeth at FoxPop asked me to mention the following on the Digest:-

A FoxPop Seasonal Sale of NetBook accessories, netPads, Revos etc. All the details here: http://www.foxpop.co.uk/newsviews/netbook.htm

Best regards,

Martin Guthrie

—————————

www.pscience5.net

www.freepoc.org

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

Date: 12 Dec 2003 13:07:22 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: EMail Lockup

Went up with the Dana and downloaded. Two large JPEGs from a friend (construction details for a 10 meter J-Pole) - 500 K each. Don't understand it corrupting both mx and Mako. I killed my mx mail folder and reloaded it from my flash (most recent backup) and all is well.

There were two files that showed as "open" during the erase process.

Curioser and curiouser but it underlines - hold onto the Dana and the Treo.

The Dana showed me what was happening (I try never to download email into my windows machine because of viruses).

jim - up and running in port townsend

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

Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003

From: Digest administrator

Subject: Re: Disclaimers

ian chapple wrote at Wed, 10 Dec 2003 21:38:56 +0100 (> ):

Hi all,

> Idris,

> I'm impressed by the fact that your company

> disclaimer was about 10 times as big as your

> actual email. Sorry I can't help you with your

> Agenda problem though.

I have to say sorry for blowing up the digest. Usually we cut such disclaimers. But in this case I looked over it.