Epocdigest V1 # 425

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Epoc Digest Thu, 15 Jan 2004 Volume 01 : Number 425

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Sent to: 795 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 22 messages:

==============================

- Epoc News

- Subject: Mbook Extra Memory and Wireless Card

- Re: Apple iPod battery problem

- Ebook replace macro

- Up-to-date macros

- Sharp Zaurus 5500

- Agenda & Contacts on D

- Mobile Phone Network USA

- Re: Contacts on D, Where to put OPH, Seach in .box(es) (4 Itamar)

- RE: 3690 and S7

- Re: American mobile phones

- SitaShop

- WIFI Card???

- OPX, SYS & OPL

- nB LCD screen plus base

- Malaybook Accessories

- POP3 email, Happy disassembling,,

- Spam replacement for n-Dream?

- American Mobile Phones & Locker problem

- Relational database

- Re: OPXs & SIS-files

- Re: nB stabillity

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

Date: 15 Jan 2004 01:59:41 +0100

From: Michael Degn

Subject: Epoc News

Message to: Bryan Wyld

Since Digest #379 your email address returns "user unknown" on a regular basis. We have unsubscribed you temporarily several times so you could fix the problem. Now we have no other option but to delete you from the list of subscribers. We hope you will read this from another source and resubscribe with a different address.

Best regards,

Michael Degn

The Epoc Digest Team

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Date: 13 Jan 2004 14:25:23 +0100

From: Christopher Holly

Subject: Subject: Mbook Extra Memory and Wireless Card

Woody, my Mbook is now a netBook with the extra memory too (I can never leave well enough alone). My recollection is that it worked great for WiFi access before I changed its personality. However, the Cisco Aironet card I have does not allow WEP access to a wireless network. I think the Lucent or Orinoco ones do. So if you have not bought your WiFi card yet, you should investigate this. If you are roaming the country in a Microbus, you probably want something with the most configurable options. Check the archives to this list. I think there is a website somewhere listing all the card that work and what their capabilities are.

Chris Holly

830 S. Fess Ave.

Bloomington, IN 47401-4946

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Date: 13 Jan 2004 15:20:27 +0100

From: ian chapple

Subject: Re: Apple iPod battery problem

Itamar,

>> Well, it is not ONLY Psion that have battery problems. Just read in the Times in the UK this morning that Apple have a problem with their iPod that holds 10,000 songs that the battery life is only 18 months. In the beginning they advised users to throw it away at the end of the battery life which created an uproar in the USA (see http://www.ipodbatteryfaq.com). Now they changed policy and users can either extend the warranty for $ 59.- or order a battery replacement for $ 99.-. At least they saw their mistake and addresses the matter. <<

I think the issue with the iPod battery is the number of recharge cycles that it can cope with; according to Sony (who make the battery), it is designed to cope with 500 charge/discharge cycles. How long an iPod works for before this limit is hit depends on the type of use that it's put to; ie. 500 cyc+/- 8 hours listening per charge gives about 4000 hours of use, which equates to several years at 2 hours listening per day. Mind you, the fact the apple thought people should chuck their iPod away when the battery gave up the ghost is pretty stupid...

Cheers, Ian (a happy iPod owner!)

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 15:39:13 +0100

From: Grant Mearns

Subject: Ebook replace macro

A couple of weeks ago the following macro was posted to automate the task of adding line breaks to text:

PROC Macro:

LOCAL S$(1)

WHILE 1

SendKey:("Ctrl+f")

SendKey:("Fn+

SendKey:("Enter")

S$=""

S$=Copy$:

IF S$<& BREAK

ENDIF

SendKey:("Enter")

ENDWH

ENDP

Is it possible to search for the "Tab" character rather than tcharacter with OPL/Macro5? I've attempted a few possibilities but to no avail...

Many thanks

Grant

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 15:39:21 +0100

From: Grant Mearns

Subject: Up-to-date macros

Does anyone have an up-to-date archive of macros? In particular, I am looking for a macro that will open an HTML file attachment in Opera.

Regards

Grant

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 15:51:45 +0100

From: Bamber Nigel

Subject: Sharp Zaurus 5500

Well after 10 years or so of owning Psions - Series 3, 3A, 5 and 5MX, writing software etc. I am about to go into the era of not owning one. Its not been an easy decision and to a certain extent, I am not 100% sure but I have now gone too far not to complete my journey.

I had previously thought hard about getting a Nokia communicator but their high price, bulky size and memory limitations stopped me. I tried it the emulator on a PC but it just didn't quite make the mark.

One of the reasons for staying with Psions is the amazing amount of software that I have got for it over the years, including the indispensable Notepad, which upto the end of December, I used everyday as a superb timemanager system.

Anyway, I have now taken the plunge and bought a Sharp Zaurus 5500. I am not sure whether there has been much discussion of them on this list but I thought you would be interested in learning about my initial thoughts.

Here is a link showing its key features.

http://www.sharp.co.uk/zaurus/spec/specifications.pdf

One of its hidden treasures is a built-in keyboard - its not that big :-(, but surprisingly easy to use and it almost takes me full circle to the series 3,3A when I used to use my thumbs to type. It is a pretty geeky sort of machine as it also runs Linux as its operating system.

Things that I like about it :

1. Colour Screen - no question it makes the Psion look very old fashioned. 2. More immediate response than the Psion when touching the screen

3. Operating System is Open Source, so various differing OS ROMs have been developed either commercially or by experts, all offering a different look/feel to the graphical user interface. Its a bit like owning three different PDAs

4. Word and Excel documents can be opened without conversions and edited/created on the Zaurus. Multiple Spreadsheets are allowed but no charting (not a big issue for me). Power point slides can be viewed but not edited. 5. Synchronisation of Outlook etc. With the abovementioned capabilities, this makes the viewing of emails with attachments on the Zaurus to be much more useable than with the Psion.

6. Mp3 and Video player (with stereo headphone output)

7. A good selection of free software. PDF, Money, Games (like Pacman, Asteroids), Car expense manager, Opera etc. but most importantly for me there is a program called Portabase which is a very customisable database programme into which I have managed to import a half megabyte Notepad (CSV exported file) and am currently working on customising it to suit my requirements. It looks a bit like Powerbase but it is much more user friendly and has intuitive filters, views and column selectors which make it really powerful to use. Its free by the way and regularly updated by the author.

8. Rotation of the Screen to show spreadsheets etc.

9. It can run Java applications

I now like holding the machine in one hand and poking it with a stylus with the other. Somehow with the Psion, you always had to have it on a table

Things I don't like (or like least)

1. I obviously miss the Psion keyboard

2. The screen is small (but the ability to rotate of the screen helps)

3. Can't appear to print from it, so you have to send a file to the PC and then print

4. Battery life. 10 hours promised but in reality less. Rechargeable battery used , so one has to keep it charged otherwise data may be lost !

Let me know your own thoughts.

For those interested in getting one, the bad news is that the 5500 model has been replaced by the 5600 model which Sharp are not bringing into the UK. However, a new Zaurus 6000 model has been announced for next year. I brought mine off Ebay

My dearly beloved Psion 5MX,travel modem and software will now go on sale on Ebay ........

Nigel Bamber

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 15:58:17 +0100

From: Tony Cabot

Subject: Agenda & Contacts on D

Itamar & Jim,

In Contacts under Tools/Preferences you can set "Disk for contacts store" as "D". Then Contacts will place the data in D:System\Data. If you put the Agenda file in the same location you won't have to remember so much detail!

Tony Cabot

*****Original Message*****

Date: 13 Jan 2004 00:05:50 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Agenda & Contacts on D, Where to put OPH files, searching into .box data files,

Answer to: Jim Watson-Gove

Re.: Agenda & Contacts on D - The Agend ayou can surely use from the D disk, just do Menu -> More -> Save as and save it to the D disk. Close the Agenda and open it by double clicking on the Agenda file on the D disk. Contacts I am not sure, but you could try and copy the file to the same directory on the D disk and delete it on the C disk and see if it works. Anyhow, do a back-up first to be on the safe side !

****

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 15:58:48 +0100

From: Carlos Rodriguez

Subject: Mobile Phone Network USA

>Date: 12 Jan 2004 19:34:52 +0100

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Re: American mobile phones

>Howdy!

>Darryl Kempster wrote (> ):

> I have just secured a year's contract with Lord of > the Dance

>Oh, you lucky SOD, travelling with all those pretty Irish girls!

> Will have to get a US mobile

> phone contract when I get over there next week so

> wanted to ask if anyone had any recommendations on

> networks or handsets? My R520m is triband so will

> work over there but do you have to buy a handset

> when you get a SIM card? And which network has the

> most coverage?

>I'd very much like to get this information as well, so unless anyone has strong objections, I suggest keeping it on the list. After all, it seems a large percentage of us Psioneers are travellers of some sort.

>What I have been told is that there is no such thing as a mobile phone network that covers the whole USA, but I hope this is wrong. I have this information from European yachts that have cruised the intracoastal waterway where you cross several state borders.

>Owen

I am frequently travelling in the US; in fact, I am there right now. My experience: I can use my German GSM phone without problems. Yes, there is no 100% geographical coverage. But: some 90%+ of population areas *are* covered. So, unless you plan to spend a lot of time out there in the middle of nowhere, you should be fine. I can usually log on via T-Mobile or AT&T. (There is a coverage map on the T-Mobile.com site somewhere.) And I can do my email on the Revo - albeit at a slower speed and substantial cost...

I have recently asked about a US contract. They usually ask for a 2-year commitment (sometimes 1 year). If you're not a resident (social security number) they also ask for a $700 cash deposit. - You can get a pay-as-you-go phone; some $200 will get you started; but I have no idea if that allows data communication with your European ISP... The phone hardware available here is at least a year older than anything available in Europe. Don't expect fancy new phones - colour, polyphonic sounds, or camera-phones are just starting to appear here.

Regards

Carlos

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 17:08:16 +0100

From: Jack

Subject: Re: Contacts on D, Where to put OPH, Seach in .box(es) (4 Itamar)

To: Itamar who

1 >>>Answered to: Jim Watson-Gove

>>>Re.: ......... Contacts I am not sure, but you could try and copy the file to the same directory on the D disk and delete it on the C disk and see if it works. ....

I'ld have suggested : Contacts/Menu/Tools/Preferences/Disk for Storing "D"

2 >>>Answered to: Marcus von Cube

>>>Re. Where to put OPH files - The file was indeed missing. I sent it to her and received confirmation all is working well. For sake of good order, "macro.oph" needs to sit in the Macro folder.

My "macro.oph" resides for years in : C/system/Opl/

3 >>>Answered to: Gianluca Gallino

>>>Re. searching into .box data files - Why don't you simply use the program "Global find" ? It will search the files you require for you on any string in the files.<<<<<<

A long time ago I read some one suggesting to rename every xxx.box to xxxx.hlp

as to allow any search in one go... but I never managed to succeed in that one.

Nevertheless...

Jack

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 18:13:25 +0100

From: Michael Degn

Subject: RE: 3690 and S7

Answer to Lars Hesselholdt

> I'm thinking of getting an old v3690 to connect with my series7 and a lot of places I see that the famous Brunsting list says that it can be connected by ir, but all the sites about the phone says that it has no ir at all. That goes for a lot of the others there to - am I overlooking something - do I need some convertor or something. <

Dear Lars,

I'm afraid you won't succeed at all. The Motorola V3690 has no built-in infrared port so it can't communicate this way. AFAIK there's no infrared adapter available for the V3690 either.

Best regards,

Michael Degn

Esbjerg, Denmark

www.mdegn.dk

www.pdanmark.dk

_____

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002

_____

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 20:51:18 +0100

From: Manuel Campos Galvan

Subject: Re: American mobile phones

Answer to Woody B

Subject: Mbook Extra Memory and Wireless Card

Definitely get the additional memory and the wifi card. I used a Lucent Wave Lan Silver card.It is a 16 bit,5 volt card that will work perfectly with the Netbook. Once i plugged it in,I actually didnt even had to fiddle with the setttings. It detected my wireless network at home and downloaded email without any problems.

When I traveled with the netbook, I also never experienced a problem with connecting at different wifi spots. Starbucks, Mcdonalds, even free spots and the occasional unknown network were accesible. However, in the case of a T-mobile hotspot (airports, starbucks) the network managed to recognize the psion and redirected opera to their site for login. If this is the case and you will only be using the connection for e-mail, your best bet is to get the pay as you go option from them.

Answer to Owen:

Subject: American Mobile Phones

I agree with you, Daryl is very lucky. Or maybe you and I are down on our luck as we have not tried to join an irish dance troupe!

I had e-mailed Daryl off digest, but with your message, I will post the response for both of your benefits.

i use T-Mobile. Very good packages, only US operator that offer three day free weekends (friday, saturday, sunday), very wide coverage, psion friendly. I have also the GPRS option at 20 dlls a month, unlimited use.

T-Mobile will give you a sim card, and their promotions always include a low cost phone. I have the ericcson t68i that I use with the Psion. As a matter of fact, I am currently traveling and this message was sent by my 5mx through the t68i and the T-Mobile GPRS connection.

Their coverage is excellent. I have not found yet a dead zone in my extensive travels. Granted, carriers are there to make money and their towers and serviceare centered over highways, cities and other areas (see T-mobile's website for their coverage maps). Yes, there wil be stretchs of highways (or waterways, in Owen's case) where there will be no service, but overall I find their coverage very satisfactory. Also, their tech support knows about psions and can help get you up and running (be sure to ask for level three technicians which are based in the UK and know about psions. Levels one and two seem only to know about using "t-zones" which is the gprs access to the web displayed on your phone).

The only qualm that I have is that i have been unable to fax documents out of my psion with the t68i (which I was able to do with my t28). Having said that I believ your best bet is with the ericsson phones which T-mobile has, if you do not want to use your current phone.

Regards,

Manuel Campo

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

Date: 13 Jan 2004 22:22:09 +0100

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: SitaShop

Hi All

For those that are interested it would appear that SitaShop has disappeared from the net :-( Lets hope that it makes a return.

Andy Hayes

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 08/01/2004

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 06:18:18 +0100

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: WIFI Card???

Wood,

<<. --Looking for info on good places to buy the memory, wireless card (best/easiest brand to make work), and any instructions, experiences on how to add the memory and make the wireless card work. Thanks, Wood>>

Hmmm - I have two WIFI cards and no desire to do wireless. Maybe I could trade one to you for two Greek lunches at Zorba's at Oak Harbor over on Whidby Island.

It's too far to walk from the terminal - you could bicycle it (19 miles from the ferry terminal) but we normally take the car over. Great lunches and inexpensive.

As far as memory goes, I was considering it, but now that I have moved everything but apps over to a 128 meg CF in D, the 16 megs is more than enough.

jim - port townsend

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 08:56:26 +0100

From: Stephane Sage

Subject: OPX, SYS & OPL

Hello All

To: Martin Maxwell

Thank you, Martin, for a very interesting course on "all that you always wanted to know about OPX and SYS without daring to ask"....I am no programmer and often fail to understand how my computer works, or doesn't...

OPLs appeared in the "Running programs" windows after I tried to launch other programs than KLink and would not be closed: they do not appear any more, now that I have reinstalled MenuS5 from Backup.

Stephane (Grenoble, France)

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 11:18:50 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: nB LCD screen plus base

I note that at www.sitashop.com you can buy a netBook LCS screen with base for Usd 98.- which you can than install yourself. That should be considerably cheaper than a repair at Psion !!

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 12:23:11 +0100

From: Melvin Woody

Subject: Malaybook Accessories

I've just won an ebay auction for an Mbook at a very reasonable price -- partly because the offering doesn't include all the accessories that Sita supplies with its $450 bundle. E.g. - it does not include the RS232 cable - nor the wireless card, though it does include either a U.S. or European power adapter. The seller will also sell me a "slimline" wireless card for $60.00. Am I right in thinking the cable is necessary to connect to my desktop? I could use the IR to coordinate with my Mako and my laptop, but for day to day purposes, I would need to move files back and forth to my desktop. Is the cable involved peculiar to the Netbook -- or might I find something that would do the job at Radio Shack or the like?* Am I right in assuming that the cables that I've purchased with my two Diamond Mako's are not apt?

Also, the Mbook I bought comes with all the software and user manual. But I note that among the accessories for sale through Sita is

"compact flash card preloaded with User Manual, PDF Reader and Opera

5.14. Do I need to purchase that separately, or will the software included with the MBook allow me to buy a CF Card ;locally and load

Opera etc. onto it? Then too, I've read in EPOC forums (or somewhere) that some CF cards work with the Netbook and others do not. Can anyone offer me some guidance on that front? (At best, I have a pretty foggy notion of how the PCMIA (sic?) and CF cards function in the regular operation of the Netbooks. )

* If I have to buy the RS232 cable from Sita, I'll be charged a minimum shipping fee of $23. At that rate, I could have them add a Cisco Wireless card for $45 and save $15 of the $60 the seller of the Mbook is asking -- and add in a screen protector and ,perhaps, a CF card of some appropriate size. Where should I turn for comparative pricing of CF cards?

Finally, is there an archive of Epoc Digests? I recall a number of messages on this list that I wish I had saved -- including one about

what one gains by buying the Netbook "personality chip" to the

Malaybook. If there is an archive, I assume that I could run a search

to find those messages .

Melvin Woody

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 13:24:39 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: POP3 email, Happy disassembling,,

Answer to: Klaus Gottlieb

Re.: POP3 email - It is however easier to open several mailboxes with the different SMTP server details and the same POP3 details so instead of having to change the details of the SMTP servers all the time, you just click on the default field in the mailbox settings to use a particular SMTP server. Personally I toggle between 5, Eclipse ADSL line, GPRS with mobile, Freeserve or Compuserve with the modem card and GPRS in Israel for my local Israeli phone. I have a set of macros that make the necessary changes in the mailbox settings which I can choose from within my email program with the Merlin toolbar.

Answer to: Roman Frotz

Re. Happy disassembling, - Requirements are a good pair of hands and nerves of steel <G>.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 16:51:55 +0100

From: Kevin Collins

Subject: Spam replacement for n-Dream?

Hi folks!

Belated best wishes for 2004 to you all...

I was doing fine with spam until before Christmas, at which time n-Dream ceased to work. It has been down so long now that I can only suppose that the cessation is permanent? Does anyone have any info on this, please?

Also, any ideas on a possible replacement? Not Windows software which segregates the mail in a PC - obviously this is no good to a Psion user - but something like n-Dream which stops the spam at ISP before download. I would not mind paying a reasonable fee for a good service. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards,

Kevin [Cork, Ireland]

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 19:50:32 +0100

From: Hoffman, Susan

Subject: American Mobile Phones & Locker problem

I use T-Mobile, which is a GSM carrier. Service is quite good in cities, lousy in rural areas and some suburbs. The coverage map is available on the website, along with information on rate plans. You have to choose a "home" area, which will determine your area code and rate plan. I understand that AT&T is also building a GSM network (which is available alongside its older network). AT&T phones would be dual-system, which means that you could use the non-GSM network if you were not in the GSM service area, but you could not use your existing tri-band phone.

Another topic -- my 5mx keeps freezing, and I have traced the problem to my use of the "Locker" program (which used to work fine). Only a hard reset brings it back. When I restore, I get a "not found" box that appears whenever the machine turns on. Any clues on how to get rid of this? Also, I can no longer print through the PC -- everything appears to be working fine, but nothing actually prints. Any suggestions? My office PC uses Windoze 2000 Professional with NT for the network. I guess I can download the PsiWin software on my new home computer which uses XP Professional. Has PsiWin been updated for XP, and how long will it take to download using a telephone modem (56K)?

Susan Katz Hoffman

Pepper Hamilton LLP--------------

3000 Two Logan Square

18th & Arch Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Tel: 215-981-4990

Fax: 215-827-5909

e-mail: hoffmans

web address: www.pepperlaw.com

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 20:43:41 +0100

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Relational database

Hi.

Someone sent me PsiDat, but it doesn't look to me like this actually supports relational databases? Is Powerbase the only option for a real relational database apart from the Relatabase method? Maybe I should RTFM.

Owen

Thought for the day:

Nihilism should commence with oneself.

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-928°02.83'N 16°42.89'W

Los Cristianos, Tenerife

http://home.no.net/naomij

Phone and SMS:

In Spain +34 620520079

In Norway: +47 92053097

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 23:13:17 +0100

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: OPXs & SIS-files

Martin Maxwell wrote:-

> using the CONTACT.OPX (this OPX makes it possible for OPL

> to access the Contacts application) in a Psion 5mx

Got a URL Martin. Also .oph ?

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 14 Jan 2004 23:13:24 +0100

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: nB stabillity

Itamar Engelsman wrote:-

> Re. nB stabillity - Are you sure you can copy all programs

> from a S7 to a nB ? Are there not differences in version

> and compatibillity problems with programs ? You might have

> copied a file you should not have copied.

Perhaps I should have said installed rather than copy. I just put my CF with .SIS files into the nB. I'm not aware of any differences between S7 & nB as far as Apps are concerned. Others aren't reporting similar problems, so there maybe some corruption somewhere that a hard reset and reinstall - not restore, will solve.