VisorCentral.com - Memplug vs. CF Adapter vs. Palm SD/MMC

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VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- Memplug vs. CF Adapter vs. Palm SD/MMC (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=14919)

Posted by ezdreamz on 05-11-2001 02:36 AM:

OK, I wanted to get some feedback on this one. I've got a Prism and am debating whether or not to go for the m505. I know about the screen differences.. I'm just wondering about the memory expansion differences.

1. Palm SD/MMC - from the reviews that I've read, it sounds like you can run applications right off the memory card. Apparently, there's a slight delay when doing that.. maybe 5 seconds or so.

2. Memplug - can't run directly from the memory card (aside from CSpotRun); needs less juice than CF Adapter, but runs slower.

3. CF Adapter - can't directly run apps either; needs more juice, but is faster than Memplug.

Am I missing anything here?

__________________
Danny

Posted by dvIceT on 05-11-2001 03:51 AM:

If you've got no compelling interest in Springboard technology, the m505 might be right for you. The one thing that would keep me from jumping ship is that I love the way my eye2 module fits with the visor. It's the most integrated pda/camera combo around.

I have the MemPlug, and it's well designed and highly functional, but I think it's too slow to ever really have satisfactory auto-copy-and-run capability, like TRG's AutoCF, or MSMount, or even the hinted-at VFS support for CF adapters.

Keep an eye on CF adapter development though. Flash adapter drivers are improving by leaps and bounds, and they've got a working CF adapter-enabled CSpotRun from what I've read. As I've posted before, their lack of a true Springboard CF adapter is still their greatest impediment to becoming the leading Springboard memory solution.

Posted by dkessler on 05-11-2001 03:14 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dvIceT

Keep an eye on CF adapter development though. Flash adapter drivers are improving by leaps and bounds, and they've got a working CF adapter-enabled CSpotRun from what I've read. As I've posted before, their lack of a true Springboard CF adapter is still their greatest impediment to becoming the leading Springboard memory solution.

Word I'm getting from the manufacturer is that a "plug-and-play" CF adapter could start shipping in less than two weeks. It will include the standard FAFileMover suite of apps which now includes a version of CSpotRun that reads doc files directly off the CF card. (Current FlashAdapter owners can get a "development" snapshot of this software now from Kopsis' website).

As for the m50X ability to run apps off the SD card, what it really does is incorporates an "auto mover" into the app launcher. Apps on the SD card show up in the launcher and tapping thier icon makes the launcher copy them to RAM and then execute them (and delete them when they exit). Keep in mind that this only works in the standard app launcher.

Kopsis is working hard to give FlashAdapter users similar capabilities and we hope to be able to officially announce some exciting new developments early next month.

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Posted by Azdeadwood on 05-11-2001 03:32 PM:

What you have missed!

quote:
Am I missing anything here?

Yes - the 16MB (or 8) Hagiwara Flash Module!
You can run all your programs (except the ones that written into ROM at the factory) directly from the module. X-Master supports running hacks on the Flash Module Applications and Quickbits works as well. I find no difference running games and large files like Avantgo and WordSmith.

A little more money, but worth it.

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Posted by Anomaly on 05-11-2001 05:10 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler

Word I'm getting from the manufacturer is that a "plug-and-play" CF adapter could start shipping in less than two weeks. It will include the standard FAFileMover suite of apps which now includes a version of CSpotRun that reads doc files directly off the CF card. (Current FlashAdapter owners can get a "development" snapshot of this software now from Kopsis' website).

<snip>

Kopsis is working hard to give FlashAdapter users similar capabilities and we hope to be able to officially announce some exciting new developments early next month.

Ooooh, Dave, you're such a tease

Two weeks?! We don't know who the manufacturer is and we can't order one, but it could be ready in two weeks?!

As usual, thanks for the hard work and the up-to-date scoop.

Anomaly . . . Impatiently waiting, so he can buy a CF Adapter already

Posted by septimus on 05-11-2001 05:52 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dkessler
It will include the standard FAFileMover suite of apps which now includes a version of CSpotRun that reads doc files directly off the CF card. (Current FlashAdapter owners can get a "development" snapshot of this software now from Kopsis' website).

More details on this? This is killer! Couldn't find it on your website, still waiting on registration, can hardly remember to keep breathing I want this so bad....

AAAHHH

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Posted by dkessler on 05-11-2001 07:39 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn

More details on this? This is killer! Couldn't find it on your website, still waiting on registration, can hardly remember to keep breathing I want this so bad....

You can download the latest development release of FAFileMover from http://kopsisengineering.com/dl_beta.html

Although the beta warnings are "scary", this is the third round of beta testing for this version and it's actually just about ready to become a stable release.

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Posted by dkessler on 05-11-2001 07:42 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Anomaly

Ooooh, Dave, you're such a tease

Trust me, not being able to disclose the details is driving me crazy too

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Posted by septimus on 05-11-2001 07:53 PM:

Just dl'ed the beta with the CSpotRun plug in: AWESOME.

I'm looking forward to the time when we won't have to open FAFileMover to access the CF card docs (i.e. find a way for CSpot to access the FaLib directly...???)..

All Hail Kopsis!

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Posted by dkessler on 05-11-2001 09:58 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn
I'm looking forward to the time when we won't have to open FAFileMover to access the CF card docs (i.e. find a way for CSpot to access the FaLib directly...???).

Actually, CSR does access FALib directly. But it takes a lot of code to be able to browse through subdirectories and let users select a file. MemPlug initally got around this by requiring that all docs be kept in the same directory. I didn't like that answer and since all the code to browse the CF card is already in FAFileMover, it seems logical to just use it. That means less code added to CSpotRun and less RAM wasted on something that another app already does. And since saving RAM is the whole purpose of a CF adapter, leveraging FAFileMover is really a good solution

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Posted by josher75 on 05-12-2001 05:00 PM:

curiousity about release of VFS compatability

Dave,

Just curious have you gotten ahold of the VFS system extensions yet. Is it really possible to add those to the Handspring system 3.5? Will they run as a hackmaster extension or will they just be incorporated into FAFilemover? I can't WAIT to try this out.......if you need any assistance please let me know. Thanks for your work on this & enjoy your time in Sweden.

Josh

Posted by dkessler on 05-13-2001 12:22 AM:

Re: curiousity about release of VFS compatability

quote:
Originally posted by josher75
Just curious have you gotten ahold of the VFS system extensions yet. Is it really possible to add those to the Handspring system 3.5?

Well, it's not so much a matter of "getting ahold" of the VFS extensions, it's a matter of writing them from scratch based on the PalmOS API spec (not a small task by any means). I won't disclose any technical details since until we have something in beta, the technical specifics could change considerably. However adding a FlashAdapter VFS extension to OS 3.5 is definitely possible and we hope to make it a reality soon. OS 3.1 on the VDX presents a few more challenges, but I think we can work around those too. Stay tuned!

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Posted by enhanceyourlife on 05-13-2001 12:25 AM:

My question would be about distribution. Will it be available from anyone besides PalmGear?

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Posted by philip on 05-19-2001 03:58 PM:

MemPlug go retail!

I heard that MemPlug will soon be available in several major retail stores like COMPUSA, STAPLES ....

Posted by gbgood on 05-19-2001 04:18 PM:

Today is the 19th, which means tomorrow Palmgear ships the memplug...

Posted by miradu on 05-19-2001 04:48 PM:

Dave, would you consider sending a preview module to Visorcentral soon? So that when it is released, we have the review all ready? People would love it! contact marcus with detials.. not me.. I'm just a volunteer..

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Posted by philip on 05-19-2001 05:01 PM:

MemPlug AutoCF

MemPlug is now beta testing its version of AutoCF. What is it? It allows direct run of applications stored on the memory card. It is like having a 128MB Handspring Springboard Flash module if you use MemPlug + 128MB SmartMedia Card on your Visor. It is not direct copy to the internal ram like Palm 500 or 505. The apps actually run on the memory card!
MemPlug is way ahead in the ballgame.

Posted by Thunderbird291 on 05-19-2001 06:07 PM:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dkessler

As for the m50X ability to run apps off the SD card, what it really does is incorporates an "auto mover" into the app launcher. Apps on the SD card show up in the launcher and tapping thier icon makes the launcher copy them to RAM and then execute them (and delete them when they exit). Keep in mind that this only works in the standard app launcher.

I just want to add to this, that this means you can only use apps/databases that are at a max 8MB, right? So if you have say a 64MB SD card, you can't have something like a 64MB "all in one" app, right?

Posted by philip on 05-19-2001 06:15 PM:

The MemPlug 'AutoCF' (I don't know the offical name) is NOT LIKE Palm 500 and 505.
For example: You can actually have a 11MB TomeRaider Dictionary running on your Visor Solo (only 2MB internal memory). The TR app and the dictionary databases all resides on the memory card. However, you can see the TR icon at the launcher. Get the idea.

Posted by Anomaly on 05-19-2001 09:15 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by philip
The MemPlug 'AutoCF' (I don't know the offical name) is NOT LIKE Palm 500 and 505.
For example: You can actually have a 11MB TomeRaider Dictionary running on your Visor Solo (only 2MB internal memory). The TR app and the dictionary databases all resides on the memory card. However, you can see the TR icon at the launcher. Get the idea.

Phillip, you've made a couple of "secret"-type statements about Memplug in the last few days - retail availability, new software, etc. Would you care to share your source with us, so we can know whether to rely on this information?

Note to Miradu: I believe Dave Kessler has said that the module is being manufactured by somebody else - not Kopsis.

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