Epocdigest V1 # 524

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Epoc Digest Mon, 17 May 2004 Volume 01 : Number 524

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Sent to: 778 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 13 messages:

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- Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 523 Foxpop gone / Macs

- WiFi and SMTP / MacDo

- Re: Fetty

- Re: Macro woe (4 Andy)

- WEP & the netbook

- Re: chopped off Digest, Cleaning of keyboard

- Removing Rubberized Coating -- 3c

- Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 523

- Closing all open files

- Hotspot at Starbucks

- Psion's stake in Symbian, Problems with Digest, Charging Mbook battery, Cisco 34

- Viruses Mac vs Windows, Full digests,

- Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 523

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

Date: 15 May 2004 16:24:33 -0500

From: George Cooke

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 523 Foxpop gone / Macs

Steve:

> As an aside, it is sad to see that Foxpop is closing down. It was an > excellent resource for all PDA types. Perhaps this explains my missing > link above.

There is a ray of hope... a new site up on t'internet announced at the Psionplace forum:

Seb's Computer Centre

For Everything Computing

http:// www.sebpayne.com

It carries a review comparing nBookPro & nBook Classic plus some other Psion stuff and looks set to grow.

Interesting to see the discussion on Macs. I use OSX but have Norton Antivirus simply to make sure I don't pass viruses onto others. A while back there was an antivirus for EPOC but was probably more redundant.

I do receive the odd email with an attachment, and the odd message pretending to be a complaint about me sending out certain messages, but I haven't. It is easy to pretend you are sending from a certain address.

There were rumours that Apple might have been resurrecting the Newton (think prototype Netbook/ Dana) - anyone got any news on this?

George

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

Date: 15 May 2004 17:04:31 -0500

From: Thomas F. VAN DER ZIJDEN

Subject: WiFi and SMTP / MacDo

Hello Itamar,

The WiFi provider in the hotel makes its own pages accessible to the customers, without subscription. Their FAQ contained their SMTP-server. So I thought I would have a try at it without taking my credit card out... and it worked !

The only annoying thing is that it only works in the lobby and not in the rooms - as it should be.

Hello Anthony,

What's wrong with MacDo ? They try to prove to "us" <g> Americans that their stuff is very healthty ! They even have salads now !

Yours truly,

Thomas van der Zijden

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

Date: 15 May 2004 17:05:51 -0500

From: Christopher Holly

Subject: Re: Fetty

And what, may I ask, is "fetty"?

Chris Holly

830 S. Fess Ave.

Bloomington, IN 47401-4946

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

Date: 15 May 2004 18:16:46 -0500

From: Jack

Subject: Re: Macro woe (4 Andy)

To: Andy

>>>...PROC Macro:

BgSystem:

SendKeyCode:(Ctl%+%q,Shift%+Ctrl%,1)

FgCurrent:

ENDP

I changed the q to an e. I also noticed the lack of an R in CTL :-) which I corrected.

I still get a "procedure not found" error which points to the end of the "BgSystem" line....<<<<

Re:

X Assistant on an UKnB, I just tested:

PROC Macro:

BgSystem:

SendKeyCode:(Ctl%+%e,Shift%+Ctrl%,1)

FgCurrent:

ENDP

It works OK (no need for a supplementary "r").

But it still close the macro launcher, so you woe is still not granted %-[

Jack

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

Date: 15 May 2004 18:46:48 -0500

From: ian chapple

Subject: WEP & the netbook

Jack,

>> This Buffalo card drains very low power from the nB. One advantage of the 340 is precisely that it's the simplest & NONWEP. 128WEP could be a non connect issue; is a feeble, even false "security" and looks rather superfluous on (nastiesproof)Epoc .<<

Although WEP is not as robust as it possibly should have been, it is essential that you use it if your setup supports it. While it is certainly not bomb-proof, to not use any encryption at all is to invite trouble; anyone sitting nearby with a laptop and the right software could tap into your network and pick up sensitive information (passwords, bank details etc.). Think of it as being analogous to having an alarm on your house or car; it won't stop the determined criminal from breaking in, but it will certainly make it more difficult. Although WEP is not guaranteed to stop hacking, it will certainly put off all but the most determined hacker.

WEP should not be a non-connect issue, unless one part of your network doesn't support it; otherwise, just make sure you get the passwords correct in all the right places. As an example; our home network has a netbook, an apple iBook and a Windows XP, all connected via a Draytek WiFi router. All elements support 128 bit WEP, but the apple Airport card in conjunction with the Draytek router only supprts 64 bit WEP; not as secure as I would like, but better than no encryption at all.

The fact that a netbook is running EPOC is *completely* irrelevant to the matter of the security of your network, and should not lull you into a false sense of security. Data sent via WiFi is potentially hackable, regardless of the operating system running on any of the computers on the network.

The only way to use WiFi and have peace of mind is to configure your network correctly; this means using WEP, and setting up access control if you use a router, to stop other people from "sharing" your network.

Cheers, Ian.

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

Date: 15 May 2004 23:07:21 -0500

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: chopped off Digest, Cleaning of keyboard

Itamar Engelsman wrote:-

> Re.: chopped off Digest - I am trying to sort it out with

> Wanadon't but they are not very helpful. After 2 messages to

> them with full details I just got a message to give them my

> mobile phone number, my age, and I don't know what and a

> phone number to call them if I have any further trouble ....

> it definitely started since the take-over by Wanadoo started.

> I hope we can eventually solve th eproblem, but in the

> meantime try and use a second email address for the digest.

This sounds like a typical automatic response. A request for your personal details so that they can send you junk, but no help with resolving the problem. I doubt if anyone has even read your messages.

I've had a couple of mail shots in the paper post from Wanadoo and thought about writing a letter to them, but it's probably a complete waste on time.

I've sent a similar fault report at www.wanadoo.co.uk . but left off my mobile phone number. I bet there is no reply. I've used my Computer Weekly address, so I wonder if it that has any effect.

Many years ago, my house mains failed. I measured the voltage as 50 VAC. A lot lower than the 240 VAC standard. The lamp bulbs glowed red.

The electricity company said they were not aware of any problem. I replied, but that's why I'm phoning you. They refused to accept any problem saying that it was impossible to have only 50 volts. They would not believe me that the bulbs were glowing red.

I argued with them for sometime, then said why would I waste my time phoning them if my AVO 8 did not display 50 volts. Oh well sir in that case we will investigate.

'AVO 8' was like a password, all of a sudden they believed me. An AVO 8 is an expensive test instrument. So as I had one and knew how to use it, they accepted my report and believed that I was an engineer.

If anyone is receiving this Digest via Freeserve/Wanadoo (and can read it all) then change to a different ISP for all lists and digests as I first noticed this problem with Yahoo digests before it occurred with the EPOC Digest.

> Re. Cleaning of keyboard - This has been discussed many many

> moons ago. How do you clean your keyboard from all the fetty

> finger marks ?

Since buying my first Psion 3a, I've never had to clean any Psion keyboard. However I've had to clean many customer's desktop keyboards. I've always used Isopropyl Alcohol, bought at a large chemist shop. I first started using this to clean video heads in video tape recorders back in the 1970's, as it leaves almost no residue and does not attack plastics.

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 16 May 2004 04:29:09 -0500

From: Stephen Stone

Subject: Removing Rubberized Coating -- 3c

A few weeks ago it was hot here in Southern California. The rubberized coating on my Series 3c, which had been holding up well for a year and a half, turned tacky -really unpleasant to hold and actually more of a drop hazard because of unexpected clinging to hands, books, papers etc. I thought that it might get better with cooler weather and tried to gently clean the case with a cloth lightly dampened with distilled water. No improvement. Now I've started to remove the coating. This was a relatively easy task on my two Series 5s (one gone with bad screen cable now): I just used my fingernails and a credit card to scrape off the coating. The coating on the 3c is another matter. It just doesn't yield easily. I've resorted to rubbing alcohol and terry cloth with some effect; but this method is taking too long and I'm afraid may be stressing the case hinges.

Does anyone know of a reagent that will dissolve the rubber coating without harming the plastic case please?

I'd be so grateful for the answer.

/Stephen Stone

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

Date: 16 May 2004 10:44:18 -0500

From: Wolfgang Golder

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 523

Hi Andy,

On Saturday 14 May 2004 21:55, Andy Hayes wrote: > Subject: Macro woe, Full digests

> How do I write, or where do I find, a macro that will close all of > the running apps with the **exception** of the one that calls it > (CronTab).

no general solution, but the following should do the trick for CronTab.

It loops through the running apps and tries to close them. After a pause of 15 seconds it will KILL the remaining apps. This means you will loose unsaved data for the killed apps!

!!! BE CAREFULL AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A VALID BACKUP !!!

INCLUDE "CONST.OPH"

INCLUDE "SYSTEM.OXH"

INCLUDE "SYSRAM1.OXH"

REM ####### ADJUST THE FOLLOWING TWO CONST TO YOUR SITUATION #######

CONST myself$= "D:\Macros\CloseKillAllExcept.opo" REM with full path

REM adjust ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CONST AppKeepRunning$= "CronTab" REM only caption like in tasklist

REM adjust ^^^^^^^^^^

PROC CloseKillAllExcept:

GLOBAL loop%,count%,RunningThreads&(999),p&,SysThread&,myselfThread&,AppKeepRunningThread&

REM ^^^ bad to do it hard limited - but 999 should be enough ;-)

SysThread&=GetThreadIdFromAppUid&:(&10000076,SysThread&)

myselfThread&=GetThreadIDFromOpendoc&:(myself$,myselfThread&)

ONERR skip::

AppKeepRunningThread&=GetThreadIDFromCaption&:(AppKeepRunning$,AppKeepRunningThread&)

skip::

ONERR OFF

WHILE 1

loop%=loop%+1 REM if loop%=1 shutdown, if loop%=2 kill, if loop%=3 stop

IF loop%=2

SETFOREGROUND:

BUSY "waiting for apps to close"

PAUSE 300 REM wait 15 seconds = give apps a chance to finish shutdown properly

BUSY OFF

ELSEIF loop%>2

RETURN

ENDIF

ONERR EndOfList::

count%=0

p&=0

WHILE 1 REM gather all running apps

count%=count%+1

RunningThreads&(count%)=GetThreadIDFromCaption&:("*",p&)

ENDWH

EndOfList::

ONERR OFF

WHILE count% REM process them one by one

IF RunningThreads&(count%)=SysThread&

ELSEIF RunningThreads&(count%)=myselfThread&

ELSEIF RunningThreads&(count%)=AppKeepRunningThread&

ELSE

IF loop%=1 REM first try to close them 'system friendly'

closeApp:(RunningThreads&(count%))

ELSE REM kill if still running after having paused

killApp:(RunningThreads&(count%))

ENDIF

count%=count%-1

ENDWH

ENDP

PROC closeApp:(threadId&)

LOCAL p&

ONERR E::

ENDTASK&:(threadId&,p&)

E::

ONERR OFF

ENDP

PROC killApp:(threadId&)

LOCAL p&

ONERR E::

KILLTASK&:(threadId&,p&)

E::

ONERR OFF

ENDP

If you have any questions or problems contact me wolfgangATgolderDOTde

Regards

Wolfgang

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

Date: 16 May 2004 13:36:05 -0500

From: Owen H. Morgan

Subject: Closing all open files

Howdy!

Andy Hayes wrote (> ):

> Can someone tell me what I need to add to close

> any and all apps that are running except the app

> that calls this macro? The calling app will be

> CronTab as a matter of interest.

I can't help you with a close all _except_ the file that calls the macro, but I'm pretty sure my ExitAll program is still available on Trygve's web site. Sorry I don't have the URL handy, but unless the sig police have got to him, it'll be at the end of all his e-mails to the list. ExitAll closes all open programs except those that don't follow the EPOC guidelines.

Owen

Thought for the day:

Get your facts first... then you can distort 'em as much as you please.

- Mark Twain

Owen H. Morgan, Yacht "Naomi J.", LD-9311

At anc27°45.54'N 15°41.06'W

Arguineguin de Gran Canaria

http://home.no.net/naomij

Phone and SMS:

In Spain: +34 620520079

In Norway: +47 92053097

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

Date: 16 May 2004 17:55:36 -0500

From: Thomas F. VAN DER ZIJDEN

Subject: Hotspot at Starbucks

Hello group,

Well, guess what ? I just passed by a Starbucks *with* a hotspot. Unfortunately, T-Mobile (the operator for Starbucks) did not leave the POP-server open as is the case in my hotel. Not really useful, this hotspot...

T-Mobile wants $9.99 for a day or $0.10 per minute, with a fixed 60 minutes ($6 !!) per connection.

Ehm... no, thank you !

How can wireless Internet ever be a success if everyone charges such ridiculous prices for it ? Even GPRS is much more interesting.

Yours truly,

Thomas van der Zijden

BTW, the SSID for a Starbucks hotspot is "tmobile" (I just took the gamble and that worked)

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

Date: 16 May 2004 21:20:00 -0500

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Psion's stake in Symbian, Problems with Digest, Charging Mbook battery, Cisco 34

Answer to: Martin Maxwell

Re.: Psion's stake in Symbian - While I appreciate your opinion, I can't say that I can confirm it in light of my conversations with a variety of people using mobile phones around me, who will most certainly choose as you said for certian functions and ease of transfering data between the old phone and the new phone they buy, but I can't remember anyone having mentioned Symbian in these discussions.

Answer to: Kevin Thorne

Re. Problems with Digest - This problem is only with RECEIVING the digest in a Freeserve account, NOT with the sending of the digest. There are currently less than 15 subscribers using a Freeserve email account and these 15 will have the problem of truncated digests, but nobody else. Anyhow, most operators send out the digest via a different ISP and use the Freeserve account only to receive the messages. Until the problem has been solved (and Freeserve are extremely unhelpful at the moment and I am traveling 3 days out of the UK and can't pursue it) we advised that people using a Freeserve mailbox should subscribe with a different ISP email address. Sorry for the problem, but it is something beyond our immediate control.

Answer to: Fotograf Anders Henriksen

Re.: Charging Mbook battery - I recharge my mBook battery around lunch time and leave it connected until I go home around 5 to 6 pm. There is no problem to use the mBook connected to the mains.

Re.: Cisco 342 card - Sorry to ask byt what is "WEP" ?

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 16 May 2004 21:20:35 -0500

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Viruses Mac vs Windows, Full digests,

Answer to: Timothy H.D. Williams

Re.: Viruses Mac vs Windows - I think someone sick enough to write a virus wants to create havoc and dagmage a maximum number of computers and in light of the market shares mentioned it is a lot more "worthwhile" to write it for Windows machines than for Mac's. I suppose another factor is that more people know to program for Windows machines than for Mac's.

Answer to: Andy Hayes

Re.: Full digests - The answer is look at their website (I am in a plane to Israel at the moment). I sent them an email to which they answered by giving me a phone number. That number was for complains about SMS messages and they referred me back again to customer service. From the table to the chair and back again to a different table. By all means, all Freeserve users please do complain with Freeserve about the problem, maybe it will help ?

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 17 May 2004 01:21:34 -0500

From: Moshe Nahir

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 523

To Ian and Jack,

Thanks very much for your answers and explanations. Thanks also for the suggestions re the best ways to backup. I will try to download them as soon as I am reunited with my PC, which is being 'refreshed' at the moment.

Perhaps someone can help with another problem I have: I have the pdf+ program (registered) on my 5mx, yet I cannot open pdf files. Should I do something whet attempting to open such a file? I will be grateful for any help.