Magic Cap Users Mailing List

Sunday August 11, 1996

From: Stephen Sayer <ssayer@hijinx.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 1996 09:23:20 -0400
Subject: Re: NP500 vs. NP530 rechargeable batteries

> Stephen Sayer wrote:
>
> > I know the handling of this issue will certainly affect my future buying
> > decisions with regard to Sony equipment of any type not to mention it
> > having put a hold on any other planned purchases related to the Magic
> > Link. Heck I've even stopped the MagicCap software development I've been
> > working on pending a solution to this problem.
> >
> > BTW, I've been trying to find a 520 or a 500 for nearly four months now.
> > Now I'm wondering if I should have been looking for another PDA instead.
> >
> > Later,
> >
>
> I have been using a 530 (Actually a Sony camcorder battery model
> NP-F530) in a PIC -1000 and a PIC 2000 for several months, without any
> problem. IMHO if you are giving up on Magic links and developing Magic
> Cap sofware because you couldn't find a _battery_, perhaps we are better
> off without your efforts. Sony tells me that any retailer that sells
> their high end 8mm camcorder line should carry the NP-F530. Fry's
> electronics in the Bay Area had about 100 of them in stock.

I never indicated that getting the 530 was a problem. Getting a straight answer
from Sony and/or one of the batteries they recommend for this device was.
You'll see that in the text that ~you~ quoted.

I'm, sorry if I appear selfish not wanting to develop for a device for which I
can't buy important accessories that are specified by the manufacturer.

Later,



--
 | 
 HijinxMOO (interactive) ==> telnet://voyager.hijinx.com:8888
 HijinxMOO (www service) ==> http://voyager.hijinx.com:8080/

From: Jeff Collier <jc@acm.org>
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 1996 11:33:05 -0400
Subject: Card Batteries

Hello, all.

Here's a strange occurrence: I have an old Sony 1M card that I wanted to
used while I change batteries in my 2M card. Before I put it back in, I
pulled the battery, expecting that when I plugged it in, I would have to
initialize the card. Nope, everything was still on the card. So I pulled
the batteries for _several days_. There still didn't appear to be any
data loss. So then it dawns on me.

These are _static_ RAM cards. So the name implies that the data would
remain. But what about the battery? Does it simply supply power when the
card is read and written? Sheesh. Doesn't the PCMIA spec provide power
to the card in some way?

What gives? Just what exactly does the battery do for the card? Its not
an urgent issue (I just dragged all the old crap into the trash) but I'd
really like to know what that battery is for.

-jeff

--

Jeff Collier | 17 Newland Road | Arlington, MA 02174 | jc@ACM.org

From: Shawn Jipp <sjipp@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 1996 16:23:16 -0700
Subject: BAMCUG#2 MINUTES

BAMCUG MEETING #2
Copyright 1996 by Shawn Jipp

This is a brief summary of the July 25th, 1996 BAMCUG meeting held at General
Magic in Sunnyvale, CA.

This time pizza was provided for those that wished to indulge
(and for GM employees who were going to be making this a 12 hour+ day at
work).  Unfortunately, some of us had just come from the pizza place across
the street (where GM had ordered their pizzas from).  Oh well.

By this second BAMCUG meeting we had figured out where the Magic restrooms
where.  No tour was given.  No T-shirts were to be seen.  Maybe next time...

The guest speaker I had invited was Toby Dunn, a programmer  from Sony
software in Monterey, California (about a 90 minutes drive from Sunnyvale).
Along with Toby came the marketing manager at
Sony new technologies.  Toby demonstrated the Berlitz talking translator, the
six game pack, and Farcast.  He wrote both the game pack and Farcast.  Before
writing Magic Cap software, he wrote 25+ titles for the Sony Discman device.
Farcast looked like a very powerful and exciting service.

I then informed everyone that GDT Softworks Incorporated was going to send us
one of their printer cables (the one with the drivers loaded inside the
cable).  This would be for our use and possibly we would wish to review it.
They also said that they would allow
our club members to buy them for only $49.95.  This cable allows printing to
Ink Jet, Laser Jet, and dot matrix printers.  To get full page printing you
will still need to print from some
software package that allows this (like Aha! Ink Writer).

I then asked my usual repertoire of questions for General Magic.  I will try
to remember what the responses were.  Here they are:

Q:  What about the Ricochet wireless modem cables?
A:  'They still aren't available' (and from their response it
seemed like a sore subject that GM didn't wish to talk about).  I
intend to ask this question at each meeting.

Q:  When will the Cujo Newsgroup reader be finished?
A:  'When Josh has time, but he has many other things required to be finished
before then, so please don't bug him about this
unofficial project'.

Q:  What is new with GPS (Global Positioning System) and Magic Cap?
A:  David Levy replied that we should 'get Trimble Navigation to come in and
give a talk at a future BAMCUG meeting.'

Q:  How about writing a driver so that I (and all other PIC-1000 owners) can
connect my external 28.8 modem to my Magic Port and use PrestoLinks? (this has
unofficially become one of my goals in life).
A:  It will be done someday when Josh is not busy but it will not be a
stand-alone program in memory.  It will be offered for developers to include
in their code.  Editors note:  Gee, doesn't GM have the rights to PrestoLinks?
 Why don't they just put this
external modem code (theirs) into a future release of PrestoLinks (also
theirs)??  I can't believe this isn't at least somewhere on their priority
list for a future release.  I guess they all own PIC-2000's or Envoy 150's.
Yes, that must be it.  Steve, are you listening?

Q:  Will their be a new PDA based on Magic Cap OS?
A:  They didn't want to release that information but they alluded to a
positive answer.  At least that was the vibrations that I got from them.  Good
vibrations.

Q:  Is a new version of Magic Cap being worked on?
A:  Yes.  Magic Cap V2.0 is being worked on.

The next BAMCUG meeting will be at General Magic on Thursday, August 22nd, at
7:00 p.m.

Replication of this message either in print form or
electronically is both authorized and encouraged.

///////Shawn Jipp
sjipp@ix.netcom.com
(408)736-5477

From: Scott Doniger <jamsys@USA.NET>
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 02:41:22 +0000
Subject: Re: BAMCUG#2 MINUTES

Dear Magic and Shawn,

God, it must be rough to have MagicCappers im GM's backyard.  I give
you credit.....

First I hope you all liked Toby...  He is a awsome programmer and a
really nice guy.   I get over 300+  messages from Farcast and other
people per day,  Toby has helped me TREMENDOUSLY in getting it to flow
together....

Quite funny,  GM kinda snuffed all your questions.....  I love my ML...
  But buy a copy of Oen Computing,  and see what really is out there.

I wish to god GM would make a solid and programmable OS before working
on all the fancy crap..

IMOO,  I think MC for win will be the biggest flop since MS Bob.  Great
we sync our communicators,  but how many of us have or will still want
MC on a PDA.  I will take bets...

Dont get me wrong,  I love my PIC,  but I now realize  it's
limitations...  The first new PDA or Pentop on the market and my ML
goes in the heap,  along with my apple lisa,  timex sinclair......

I feel bad (sincerly) for users and developers of GM and MC.   Man,  my
hopes were up there through the roof....

Steve Schramm....  My Laughf's go out to you....

Scott

Hate me if you will,  but please dont start a flame on this.....  My
personal email is jamsys@usa.net if you want to Flame...
--------------------------
            From the desk of Scott Doniger...

From: Mike Lombrozo <Lombroma@mail.fia.net>
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 20:24:37 -0700
Subject: Re: Joel's Magic Link Story

Curt Steindler wrote:
> Seriously, although Sony and ATT seem to be backing off on MagicCap (and
> don't I know it, you can't find a ML-2k in LA for love or money) two factors
> will once again push MC forward:
>
> 1) The release of MagicCap for Windows -- since this program will
> (reportedly) sinc with handheld MC devises, backups will become a breeze.
>  Further, the possibilities of using MC as a full scalled PIM are coming very
> close to reality. No other PDA can claim anything near that.
>
> 2) The (premature) death of PersonalLink will actually work to MC's
> advantage. Isn't MC the first PDA op sys to offer more or less full access to
> the internet?
>
> Just my 2 cents, but I think they are worth considering.
>
> Curt Steindler

I totally agree with Curt.  The Magic Cap interface is great as a PIM.
I know several managers in my company that would love to have the same
interface on a PDA as they use on the desktop.  Most of the time they
only want to "stay in touch" via Email, so don't really need a laptop
computer.  The new Newton may offer some competition, but I think the
Magic Cap interface is much better suited to GUI, which is where
everything seems to be headed.

--
Mike Lombrozo           '93 Aspencade, '72 R60/5, '86 Venture
San Clemente, CA