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-- Where are the Killer Modules? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=14426)

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Originally posted by ricojrossi
I HEARD FROM A LITTLE BIRDIE THAT THE PEOPLE AT PALMGEAR HAVE BEEN TESTING A MODULE THAT WOULD TURN YOUR HANDSPRING INTO A CORDLESS PHONE. I WOULD BUY INTO THIS MODULE.

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A couple of thoughts:

1. James raised a good point about alternative OS modules. When the Visor was first announced, Linus Torvalds mentioned the imminence of a Linux module, implying that he was working on it. Of course, Linus spends his days working on MobileLinux for Transmeta, and his evenings and the Linux 2.x kernel, so it's no surprise that something had to give. But I'm surprised that no-one seems to be working along similar lines. Given the availability of Flash modules, it looks much more convenient to create a new OS on a module than trying to shoehorn it into the Palm's Flash ROM, like the MicroC Linux project for Palm. This goes beyond Linux per se. There's plenty of virgin territory on PalmOS devices for the glory of developing your own OS.

2. I'd like to see cell phone connectors that use the Springboard slot, so that I can use the Stowaway at the same time. There's a diagnostics card available that can do this, but that's overkill: we need a more focused solution. Xircom has (or will have) a GSM connector module, but we in the US are predominantly CDMA. I'd really like to see the Springboard equivalent of the Sierra Wireless Aircard 530 (which plugs into a laptop's PC card slot), enabling the use of a SprintPCS account without actually having to connect to a cell phone. I don't want or need another ISP strictly for wireless access. With SprintPCS, I already have a wireless network for my laptop and Visor; now it's just a question of having more elegant hardware.

3. I'm glad to see the bang-for-the-buck increasing as the technology develops: e.g. ThinModem+, EM2, various CF modules, and the (sometimes) $50 Handspring Modem -- to name a few. Springboards for CF, SD, MMC, Memory Stick and other solutions make the Handspring the best long-term bet for expansion, IMO.

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Eye of Gameboy

As others have said, some artists don't care if you record their music. The U2 concert I went to didn't have any signs about not bringing in recording devices.

I meant what I said in the closing of my article. Most of the Springboard modules available today are available as an accessory for the Palm or are too expensive for wide use. The one module IMHO that is universally appealing is the Backup Module. For the price, it's a fantastic module to have.

I want a standard size module that knocks the socks off of Palm because of its functionality. It doesn't have to do a bunch of things, just one thing very, very well.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

What you said was that "...the Visor really needs a module that really sets it apart from other handheld devices" which is very different from saying you want a module that will knock the socks off of Palm. If the focus of your argument is the Palm platform then fine, but when you include other handheld devices it becomes a completely different argument.

Cell phones that work in Europe...

Hey,

What I would like to see appear on (or in) my Visor is a cell phone module like the VisorPhone. Problem is I live in Belgium, and here we use another band for it (900 MHz I think).

Since VisorPhone is still only available as a 1800 MHz phone, I get no chance to get one. Can you believe that was one of the reasons I actually bought my Visor?

Also, there is not enough choice... When there is one company making a module, it seems to me like the others don't want to be concurrents. For some popular things there are 2 or 3 choices, but that's it.

Thomas

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Originally posted by JHromadka
I meant what I said in the closing of my article. Most of the Springboard modules available today are available as an accessory for the Palm or are too expensive for wide use. The one module IMHO that is universally appealing is the Backup Module. For the price, it's a fantastic module to have.

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There's a serial springboard, and that's all those cellphone modules really are. Just get a db9->cellphone cable and plug it in.

1. I'd like the Springboard+ standard to require that modules unclude at least 512k of FileMover-accessible flash for the user to store applications specific to that module.

2. USB "master" module that I can plug USB devices into.

3. Wired ethernet. I want a handheld 'sniffer'.

4. I want Omnisky to fix their damn Minstrel package. Quit forcing a bunch of crappy software on the user, and give me access to the flash via file mover, and finally I'm tired of Minstrel-caused hard resets.

5. Alternatively, Ricochet module.

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Time is on My Side

One factor that has been lost in the off-topic discussion of recording a concert live, is that legal or not, with a single source recording device (one microphone)you would only get a mono recording; CD quality in Mhz but not bit rate. In fact, I suspect that the existing voice recording modules for dictation would capture effectively all the "quality" available in a live, single point recording. I suspect that regardless of memory or module, that on-the-fly MP3 encoding is beyond the capabilities of today's handhelds.

I suggest that the Killer Module for those of us with VDXs will be the 802.11 module that allows us to roam our homes, offices and yards providing the same (or perhaps even enhanced, given available bandwidth) experience as our truly wireless brethren with Palm Vxs and other truly wireless PDA's. I'd venture to guess that an effective 802.11 module would meet at least 75% of my wireless PDA "needs" (conference rooms, couch, dinner table, hammock).

I will also suggest that the best way for Xircom to kill a killer module like 802.11 would be to charge $150+ for the convenience. At that price I'd just go out and get a PDA with integrated wireless.

For me, the MEMPLUG is a very good candidate for a killer module, it's inexpensive, multi-functional, and it's use has "long lasting" benefits that affect just about every other application/module on your visor (i.e. it can free space that would otherwise be taken up).. Now, don't get me wrong, the KOPSIS/CF solutions are very good, but they have one fatal flaw, the support applications are not in flash memory on the springboard, hence it's not a true springboard, and additionally, in the event of a hard reset, you are out of luck until you can put the applications back on...

I'm very happy with my memplug, I really think it's a killer module that is already here..

__________________
"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

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Originally posted by argent
There's a serial springboard, and that's all those cellphone modules really are. Just get a db9->cellphone cable and plug it in.

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__________________
Eye of Gameboy

I'm talking about the eFig diagnostic springboard.

Yes, just a flush db9 would be nice, but it *does* exist.

__________________
Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

As I see it, the need is not for a killer module. More realistically, the need--yea verily, the fantasy--is for a module that is worth the plastic that encases it.

Let's see. Omniremote is pretty cool. GPS? OK I'll grant that.So, there are two OK modules.

Visor Phone. Are you kidding? It's way too expensive for starters, and let's face it, aesthetically speaking it's as appealing as a Seagall flick, sans LeBrock. I'll carry a separate phone, thanks.

What else is Visor offering us? Bluetooth? Has anyone really thought--I mean REALLY THOUGHT about what we can use this loser module for? I'm betting the answer is that Bluetooth isn't around for very long.

It seems to me that the state of affairs from a module standpoint is really at its nadir when we are getting excited about a module with a vibrating alarm.

Now don't get me wrong. I love my Prism. It's just that the only thing really worth while is the software I have on it, most specifically I Silo/ I Silo web. Otherwise, I feel duped with the promise of great expandability. Because if we are honest with ourselves, with very few exceptions, it just hasn't happened.

Actually, U2 is pro-bootleg

To quote Bono:

"My feeling is that it is cool for people to share our music - as long as no one is making money from the process. We tell people who come to our concerts that they can tape the shows if they want. I think it is cool that people are so passionate about our music" -Bono

Re: Actually, U2 is pro-bootleg

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Originally posted by mjsherman
To quote Bono:

"My feeling is that it is cool for people to share our music - as long as no one is making money from the process. We tell people who come to our concerts that they can tape the shows if they want. I think it is cool that people are so passionate about our music" -Bono

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Re: Cell phones that work in Europe...

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Originally posted by Tego
Hey,

What I would like to see appear on (or in) my Visor is a cell phone module like the VisorPhone. Problem is I live in Belgium, and here we use another band for it (900 MHz I think).

Since VisorPhone is still only available as a 1800 MHz phone, I get no chance to get one. Can you believe that was one of the reasons I actually bought my Visor?

Also, there is not enough choice... When there is one company making a module, it seems to me like the others don't want to be concurrents. For some popular things there are 2 or 3 choices, but that's it.

Thomas

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__________________
<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Every Person is Different.

The backup module is already a killer application for me. Being able to have the modem or Omnisky module installed while using the keyboard is important too.

But GPS? OmniRemote? MP3 Players? Nah. Don't see the point.

__________________
Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Omni Killer

I bought an OmniRemote for the hell of it...just to have a module in my VDX at all times. Much neater in concept than execution. I don't want to get into it here (I have a string on the OmniRemote going in the Module Discussion group), but the thing isn't that good...maybe a three on a five star scale. Definately not killer.

I think that developers and manufacturers go through thoughts similar to this thread and shudder. You can't have a killer module. What one of us considers a lifesaver, another considers junk. What another of us considers the best thing since sliced bread, another comments that it has no purpose.

I love my Visor and I love my YadaYada Minstrel (since they're still in business). I leave my MiniJam in most of the time. I've got music on one card and parts of an audiobook on the other. I've also got a number of e-books on there for PeanutReader. If I ever manage to actually receive a MemPlug, I'll do the same with CSpotRun. I'd get a VisorPhone and get rid of my Startac, if there were better service in L.A. then Cingular.

And software is developing rapidly. With Documents to Go, I can carry around most of the California law that I refer to on a regular basis since they're available in PDF. With my Stowaway and Wordsmith or pEditPro, I can draft my outlines anywhere.

So, perfect, no. But a year ago, I was lugging my Sony laptop everywhere, but it takes much longer to boot up than turning on my Visor and required an additional carry-on bag when flying. My Visor and a module clip on my belt and the other pieces are de minimis.

Sorry for the ramble, just thinking out loud.

quote:

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Originally posted by Anomaly
I think that developers and manufacturers go through thoughts similar to this thread and shudder. You can't have a killer module. What one of us considers a lifesaver, another considers junk. What another of us considers the best thing since sliced bread, another comments that it has no purpose

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__________________
Eye of Gameboy

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But large companies don't seem to be interested in wireless products that can't leverage a strategic partnership with content or service providers.

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