Epocdigest V1 # 436

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Epoc Digest Sun, 01 Feb 2004 Volume 01 : Number 436

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Sent to: 806 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 16 messages:

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

- Returned message

- 32MB DIMM for MnetBook

- RE: Scare tactics re.spams

- EC standard plugs

- TCP (was Microsoft/Virus OT)

- Re: 5mx application installation problem - another attempt

- CF Fail w/Machine Fail?

- AtomicTime, EC standard plugs, Virusses,

- Connection Problem - question for Antony

- Re: RANDOMIZE

- Vodafone Australia access number

- Netpad questions

- netPad / Why I hate MS / CronTab's & Backups (The moaning continues!)

- Silent PCs / Backup

- Re: Random numbers

- Re: Microsoft/Virus OT

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Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004

From: Digest administrator

Subject: Returned message

Today one digest was returned because of the words "inkjet" which appeared in one of the footers. Please check your messages carefully for words that might be caught by the spam protectors.

Thanks for the co-operation

With best regards

Itamar Engelsman

The Epoc Digest Team

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 01:10:24 +0000

From: Keith Giles

Subject: 32MB DIMM for MnetBook

I bought a 32MB DIMM for my MnetBook. After installation, the memory was only 34MB instead of 50MB. The card has 4 rectangular chips on it. How can I tell if it's a card problem or my machine problem? Simple English, please.

Happy Cycling,

Keith

Sunnyvale, CA

http://ohsix827.home.comcast.net

Thought For The Day: If we had our life to live over, we'd probably make the same mistakes sooner.

All my outgoing e-mails have been checked by Norton Anti-virus.

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 04:43:12 +0000

From: Martin Maxwell

Subject: RE: Scare tactics re.spams

Answer to: Stephane Sage

Subject: Scare tactics re.spams

>>don't worry about Arent's "scare tactics" on spams invading yr mailbox whichever protections you may have set. That seems to be his style, just as he keeps predicting Micro$oft final victory over Symbian, with dubious arguments as ever..<<

The spam and virus scare is in fact a strong argument why one should keep going with Symbian, regardless of whether it is ER5 or later versions.

99.5% of all viruses carried by spam are targeting Windows, and in particular Outlook and Explorer.

It has happened to me on several occasions that people around me have been seriously hampered by virus attacks, but my work has been unaffected since I'm using Symbian Email in my netBook for all Email correspondence. And, on occasion it has even happened that people have been in panic, not being able to open their Outlook anymore, asking me to open their POP mailbox from my netBook for some urgent matter. So, well, in a sense, also my own work *was* affected, though in a positive sense.

Kind regards

Martin Maxwell

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 10:04:54 +0000

From: Antony

Subject: EC standard plugs

To: Itamar Engelsman

> Re.: EC standard plugs - It happens to be that my Company sells electrical switches and sockets to the European market and it is a real pain that there are so many different types in Europe. one type would undoubtedly bring down prices further. There is nothing wrong with an adaptor but if you travel to different countries for business you might need several adaptors .... ! But more worrying is that most Chinese materials claim they are safety tested but in fact are of inferior quality and unsafe to use. <

Surely the different types are what is defined as a range of products? I think it is a little too much to ask the whole of Europe to conform to a single standard, so a resellers life would be easier and business men could pack lighter. That's like garages wanting all cars to be the same, so they don't have to provide different components.

As far as Chinese products safety standards; This would be a matter for the industry regulators and doesn't really relate to a standardisation. After all, they could always make substandard standardised products too.

To: Ian Chapple

>I agree with the comment about travel plugs, but not necessarily with the first part. In my old flat (I live in Holland), all of the mains sockets, apart from those in the kitchen, bathroom and landing were unearthed; in

my new (3 year old) house, all of the sockets are earthed. I'm not sure whether the law itself has changed (Rolf may know more about this), or whether the builders themselves decided that it was better, but I'm certainly happier with this arrangement.<

I agree that earthing the electrical wiring is a good idea and in my opinion preferable, but it would surely be more expensive running 3 wires than 2? New properties would be fine as the cost would be absorbed into the overall budget, but to standardise would require existing premises to be upgraded, having wires run (and maybe some replaced) and fuse boxes replaced. This would be enormously expensive. Another thing to consider is the power generation facilities of each country. These would need updating to comply to a standard Voltage and AC frequency. The whole project would be incredibly expensive and I don't think the result would be justified.

Antony Booth

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 10:14:39 +0000

From: Thomas Richter

Subject: TCP (was Microsoft/Virus OT)

Hi Koi Hin,

[you wrote to Alan Morris]

>> It's interesting that a very recent news article reported that >> Micro$oft will be releasing a new software product that will stop the >> virus problem.

> You wouldnt have an idea how this wonderful product work, would you?

I think, the news article mentioned by Alan was about TCP - trusted computing platform. Which roughly means you aren't any more allowed to run any programs on your computer, with the only exception of such programs that have been certified and digitally signed by Microsoft (or some other party that is trustworthy in the eyes of those entertainment producers who are so much interested in DRM).

"No programs" includes - and thus the subject TCP is not as OT as it sounds at first - that there is no way to import data from a psion into outlook or vice versa. And probably no way for an exchange between epoc word and winword either.

TCP works with special hardware (you remember the 'Fritz' chip?) that ensures at

boot time, that no illegal device (e.g. a sound card with digital output) is in the computer, and that the bios has a valid signature. Together with a special operating system that ensures that you can't start a program without a signature. Which makes

it impossible, least you are a millionaire or a *big* company, to write a program :-(

If your computer won't run *any* unsigned program, it won't run worms and viruses either. Emphasizing this point could be a way to make people buy such a crippled machine.

Of course you will be able - at least for the beginning - to reboot your computer and start it in 'unsafe' mode. Then you can still use your homemade programs, but most

of the other programs won't work in that mode. Neither Word nor Excel, and of

course no video or audio player... to use these, you'll have to reboot again, and I'm afraid with all the checking of signatures, a reboot will become even more time consuming.

TCP protects your computer. From you :-(

Tom

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 12:19:10 +0000

From: Chris Cooper

Subject: Re: 5mx application installation problem - another attempt

I posted this query a week ago; maybe I waffled too much and it got overlooked, because nobody's responded:

>>>

When I tried to run [a] .sis file on the 5mx, it started off nicely, telling me it was preparing to install: then it stopped with the message 'In use'. When I ran the file on my PC, a lot of files were successfully installed. Then, during the 'Checking dependencies' phase, I got an 'Out of memory' message. Of course, there was plenty of memory left on both C and D drives on the 5mx. ... [the app was only partially installed] ... What should I do?

>>>

I'd certainly appreciate any thoughts anyone has!

Best,

Chris

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 12:54:12 +0000

From: Jim Watson-Gove

Subject: CF Fail w/Machine Fail?

Susan Says,

<<You just have to make sure to switch the "system" screen back to the C drive, because I understand that if it is on the D drive when the machine crashes, it corrupts the CF card. Never happened to me personally, maybe because I always am "aimed" at the C drive.>>

Whooops - that got my attention. I currently have essentially _all_ of my data on a 128 meg card that I move from 5mx to MBook depending on what I am doing. Both machines tend to stay on "D" drive when the card is resident. Am I playing a fool's game? I do backup fairly regularly but losing a day or so of work would be bad news.

Anyone have a card corrupt because of a machine failure, 5mx or MBook? I have corrupted a file from time to time because of either a 5mx to Classic 5 incompatibility (or perhaps low battery - not entirely sure), but an entire card?

Maybe it's time for a PCMCIA adapter and a second 128 meg card for drive E on my MBook.

jim - belts and suspenders in port townsend

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 14:08:12 +0000

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: AtomicTime, EC standard plugs, Virusses,

Answer to: Eric Lindsay

Re.: AtomicTime - The problem with a macro is that I never know in advance how long I will be on line, depending on the number and size of the email(s). Accordingly I would need at least two macros, one to switch of CronTab and start my email session, one to switch off my email session and switch on CronTab again. I think closing and opening it manually is not that much more work so hardly worthwhile. Anyhow, I decided to run Atomic Time only once every so often as i don't need to be split second on the right time day in day out.

Answer to: Ian Chapple

Re. EC standard plugs - I agree with you that earthed sockets are safer, but how many appliances you use still have non-earthed plugs ? Without the right earthed plug the socket earthed is useless.

All

Re. Virusses - Lately I got several messages back from other ISP's which I never sent in the first place. I checked my PC's at work and home but did not find a virus. Than one particular message came back sent frwhich is an email address I actually never used. It was created by Compuserve when they planned to move everybody which in the end never materialised. This means that someone else found this address somewhere and used it as a "sent from" address. It is amazing what these people do to send their filth in other people's name.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 30 Jan 2004 21:10:54 +0000

From: Hoffman, Susan

Subject: Connection Problem - question for Antony

You said,

>>I solved my connection problems by creating a Hyperterminal connection The Hyperterminal connection will show a repeated string when the PDA attempts to connect.

>>When there are connection problems, I simply close the .exe, launch the Hyperterminal shortcut. When the string starts to repeat, close hyperterminal and attempt to connect again by clicking the 'My Psion' shortcut or something. This works every time.

I don't understand any of that <g>. Either it's British English or much too technical for little ole me. Are you creating something on your PC or on your 5mx? And what is it? And how do you create it? And will our IT people (who don't let us lawyers do anything on our own to our computers lest we screw up their already-screwed-up network) let me do whatever it is you are describing? Or are you talking about the problem I had when I first installed PsiWin 2.3.3 on my home computer, which seems to have resolved itself? Or were you responding to the question that I was responding to?

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

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Date: 30 Jan 2004 22:14:49 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: RANDOMIZE

Marcus von Cube

>> Chris I did not suggest using a fixed number as the seed,

>> you did! Call RANDOMIZE with a time related seed, as all

>> have used so far. Then use the result as the new seed

>> when calling RANDOMIZE a second time.

>> This will make it _more_ random as initially required.

> Hey, either it's random or it isn't, is it?

Well the original poster had a problem as the results were not as 'random' as hoped for. My second suggestion was to make it _more_ random.

I suggested two improvements. Firstly remove RANDOMIZE from the loop and place in the init part of the code.(many also suggested this) Then I suggested (as above) to call RANDOMIZE twice, naturally out of the loop.

> A pseudo random generator is.....

Actually a fixed and repeatable sequence of numbers obtained by using RND. A different sequence can be obtained by using a different seed. As you know RANDOMIZE is called to do this. By calling RANDOMIZE twice, you make it more unlikely to produce similar results that had apparently occurred.

> Calling RANDOMIZE with the result of the first RND call

> after another RANDOMIZE is essentially the same as

> skipping some part of the sequence.

This was not in the original post, or any other in this thread, that I've seen.

> So you can't make it better by complicating the sequence

> of calls to RANDOMIZE and RND.

Who suggested this Marcus? It was not me!

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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Date: 31 Jan 2004 06:33:07 +0000

From: Andrew Morphett

Subject: Vodafone Australia access number

I had been accessing email and the web using my mobile phone (GPRS and GSM) through Telstra in Australia. I think someone on the digest shared a mobile access number that allowed me to use telstra as the ISP.

My work is now using Vodafone. Does anyone on the list know if there is a similar number / setup for Vodafone Austraila??

Thanks,

Andrew Morphett

Geelong, Australia

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Date: 31 Jan 2004 13:32:58 +0000

From: Timothy H.D. Williams

Subject: Netpad questions

I have just bought a Netpad and am delilghted with it. Why on earth didn't Psion bring out a lighter model to compete with the Palm.

However there are a few problems I'm finding and would appreciate any help.

1: I can get the machine to connect via the dock to my Mac (OSX) but as soon as I start transferring files via JavaPsion link, I get the

message that the Psion is not responding. However, if I lower the baud rate, the connection appears more stable. Yet, if instead of the dock, I connect via the cable, the connection is perfect at full speed. Why

is the dock doing this to me?

2: the standard procedure for selecting several files via the keyboard on a Psion is to hold down the shift key and then select with the down key. This doesn't work with the virtual keyboard. How can I do multiple selection via the virtual keyboard?

3: my machine is running netpad ER5 version 1.05 (166) but I see there are more recent OS available at www.psionteklogix.com . Is it worth my while updating my OS? As I understand it, I have 16 mb ROM and 16 mb RAM.

4: the machine came with a scanner. Can this be used for purposes other than barcode scanning?

5: my machine tells me the backup battery needs servicing but the back up level (0.8V) seems to be running at 25%. Does this mean the backup battery is functioning effectively? Short of sending the machine to Psion, is there any way to replace the backup battery?

Thanks in advance.

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Date: 31 Jan 2004 17:22:17 +0000

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: netPad / Why I hate MS / CronTab's & Backups (The moaning continues!)

Hi All

After saying that I would buy one since before god was a boy, I have finally taken the plunge and bought a second-hand netPad. Its from David Lowe, a 5520 with WiFi. I will let you all know how it all went in the near future. Described as in good condition I am looking forward to receiving it once I have paid him the money. The plan is for it to be in-car satnav system, not that you could get lost on Shetland!

If you looked at http://www.euronet.nl/users/frankvw/IhateMS.html did you notice Ozzy Osborne in the Microsoft Team 1978 picture!?

For those that have lost the thread of this, I don't have a problem with the backup software itself. I have a problem with the bug in CronTab. Unattended backups run perfectly using FastBackup and Crontab, but you have to remember to either switch off Crontab before you synch the Agenda file (one of the backed up files) each time, or I have to set a silent alarm. I thought about asking if anyone on the list would be able to write something that would fit into Chris' FastBackup app to allow it to run unattended when the Psion is switched off, but then I thought that it would be better just to have something like CronTab that could run any app unattended, without the hassles of silent alarms, or remembering to switch off the app. If it was shareware and worked I would be happy to pay a tenner for it. Am I alone here?

Andy Hayes

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

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

Version: 6.0.576 / Virus Database: 365 - Release Date: 30/01/2004

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Date: 31 Jan 2004 18:03:40 +0000

From: Andy Hayes

Subject: Silent PCs / Backup

Hi All

I am about to move house and the PC that I have is on loan so will need to go back to the owner. I need to buy a replacement, but need to make sure that it is quieter than the awful thing that I am using at the moment. Has anyone bought one of these silent PCs? Anything to say about it? Replies off list if this is too far off topic.

Stephane Sage mentioned Ralph Sprengers Backup app. I have looked at this app before. I can't remember why I dismissed it then, but I will revisit the app. Thanks Stephane.

Andy Hayes

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

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

Version: 6.0.576 / Virus Database: 365 - Release Date: 30/01/2004

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Date: 31 Jan 2004 22:34:55 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Random numbers

Hello Chris,

Chris S Handley wrote:-

> I am afraid we have both fallen foul with the poorly

> chosen word "random" in relation to OPL's RND function;

> both your idea & my explanation of why it would not work.

> What we should say is that RND is "pseudo-random", which

> means it always generates exactly the same sequence of

> numbers for a given RANDOMIZE seed. It is in this context

> by which I used the phrase "fixed (non-random)". At the

> risk of repeating myself, I'll try to rephrase my

> explanation below.

To respond to your questions (see below):-

;start of history lesson.

My first use of BASIC was on a PDP 11, but can't recall if it had a random function. In Commodore (Microsoft) BASIC, back in 1978 (when I bought my PET 2001) there was only one function - RND (X). I suppose PSR or something similar could have been used, but not so easy to remember!

This function was a pseudo-random function. So I've not fallen foul of the chosen word "random" in relation to OPL's RND function. The result depended on the sign of the expression, X, not it's size. So there were three possibilities: -ve, zero or +ve.

A location in page zero memory (5 bytes long) held the previous number generated. RND (+ve) computed the next number in sequence. After about 45000 repetitions it started to repeat. RND (-ve) always started the same new sequence as a fixed (same) value was placed into page zero. RND (0) placed a value taken from one of the timer chips, so Psion's recommendation (see below) could be based on this historic fact. Note OPL does not use (X), it requires another keyword.

Commodore BASIC did not have a RANDOMIZE statement as this was done automatically on power-up (so not suitable on a Psion!) or you made X=0. At power-up, the first version used a fixed value. In the second version of Commodore BASIC the randomness of the first result, was improved by using a 'free running clock'.

I continued writing BASIC on a Commodore when the 16-bit Sirius was introduced as the editing was never as good as on a PET. I transferred code which I then compiled, so I don't know when RANDOMIZE was introduced into BASIC. It was in version 3.0 when I eventually changed over, and remained there until version 7.1. I bought VB 1.0 but never wrote any programs with it.

I know about the actual working of RND on PETs as I wrote in BASIC, assembler or both combined, so needed to understand the entry points into the OS (also in ROM, just like a Psion) and the memory addresses used.

It's interesting that the first Psion BASIC (OPL) I used was on a 3a and the Programming Manual (that came with my first 3a/512Kb but not my second 3a/2Mb) recommended using a clock event with RANDOMIZE - MINUTE and SECOND.

>> I can't vouch for it's efficiency in OPL, but it worked

>> for me about 25 years ago, when I first used this trick.

> How have you been measuring randomness? And on which

> system(s)? Really old programming languages apparently

> often used appalling pseudo-random algorithms

My notes taken back in the late '70s and early '80s on it's efficiency have long disappeared, but I remember discussing this with a number of members of the '6502 Users Group', of which I was chairman for a random (ouch!) number of years.

;end of history lesson!

So, now what music track shall I play?

Eni, minei, moe .....

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 31 Jan 2004 22:35:07 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Microsoft/Virus OT

"Wong Koi Hin" wrote:-

> AM>So why is the world still suffering from the virus

> problem that is only active because of Micro$oft and only

> on Micro$oft products? Micro$oft could very easily remove

> this problem but it has not because it makes a lot of

> money from it.

> Viruses exists on most popular platforms including

> open-sourced ones. Your wording seems to suggest Microsoft

> is responsible for the viruses themselves. (?)

Well it has been suggested by others that some viruses originate from Micro$oft supported folk, because Micro$oft make a lot of profit, as when servers etc get overloaded, then they need to be replaced by more servers.

M$ IE OE defaults on installation to preview. This causes many to automatically propogate viruses. If M$ removed this and stopped the ability of e-mail atachments to automatically run, as in EPOC, then the problem would reduce signifigantly.

> You wouldnt have an idea how this wonderful

> product work, would you?

Correct, I've no idea, other than removing the code that automatically runs them. OT, so I'll not comment further.