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

Discuss James' article here.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

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Originally posted by JHromadka
Discuss James' article here.

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Here's an email someone sent me. He said I could post it, so here it is:

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james,

i agree with you about the demand for a killer module.

but, could it be another os? i have a visor because i DON�T want to have a windows ce or a psion.

or really a mp3 recorder? a remote control? there were omni remote controller for good prices for a long time.

i�m even looking for the ultimate module for me for a long time. it is the stowaway and the thinmodem plus by card access. much of fun by the eye2. i think, you should know, what you really want to do with a handheld and not.

i don�t watch television an a pretty small screen when i can have it on my flat sony. i don�t want to watch mpg�s, or dvd�s on this screen. because where? at work? in my
car?
in my garden? i�m sitting in my garden because i want to sit there with the sun in my face.

could it be something you�re not using all the time? a built-in lifeguard in the moment you�re not able to use your cellphone? but how should it work?

perhaps in the future a video conference tool with a built-in camera? i think it�s necessary to develop an ultimate handheld with a lot of features. and then you need only one or two more modules. the keybord for example.

you see, i think the most recent applications for the visor were still available. or announced.

a bluetooth module, an ethernet module. but even this applications should work as a built-in application.

what about a visorcentral-handheld with all this features?
camera, bluetooth and/or ethernet, wireless features like gprs/umts/hscsd, telephone, lifeguard and a really clear, brilliant color screen. working with Hromadka OS 1.0!

therefore i would pay about 1,000$. for a really over all handheld.

regards
oliver

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

U2 Portland? If so I was there! No I don't think it is legal to bootleg concerts....

Killer Modules

Yes, bootlegging is still illegal. Always has been, that's never changed. Actually, it's called stealing.

Re: Killer Modules

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Originally posted by dtehshuh
Yes, bootlegging is still illegal. Always has been, that's never changed. Actually, it's called stealing.

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Re: Killer Modules

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Originally posted by dtehshuh
Yes, bootlegging is still illegal. Always has been, that's never changed. Actually, it's called stealing.

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The missing item is storage, in all modules

The problem with most modules is that they seem to be made like toys. Example given, an MP3 player with 8MB of storage isn't worth my time to load up. But an MP3 player with cheap removable storage in the 64MB range (like smartmedia cards) is something I would buy in a heartbeat.

Think about it - if all I can do is load up 8mb at a time in such a module, then erase those files to load more, what's the point.

On the other hand, if I can load the files into a smartmedia card and keep them there permanently, then I can carry around as much music as I want - a dozen smartmedia cards would probably fit inside an Altoids case.

I'm not sure smartmedia is the final solution (slow transfer rate?), but the point is that increased storage would drasticly increase the usefulness of most modules. The sony memory stick seems ideal except for its expense.

Even the eyemodule - I'd much rather store images to removable cards than have to store them to the visor itself - why be limited by internal memory?

And if they're not going to standardize on a specific form of memory, they could at least standardize an API for seamlessly accessing external memory, so, for example, AportisDoc wouldn't need to know about the specifics of accessing a particular CompactFlash device in order to read a large (>8mb) file from the device without the user having to manually move parts of the file into active memory.

My 2 cents...and then some.

And btw...

Dave Matthews Band also encourages bootlegging.

The PDA itself is the killer ap.

The modules serve the purpose of allowing customization of the killer ap, making the PDA personalized to the individual user.

A decent analogy is the automobile. The vehicle is the killer ap, and the optional equipment are like the modules. Leather seats, larger engines, moonroofs, etc.

Leather seats are important to some consumers, but considered frivolous by others. The choice of purchasing an eyemodule works the same way. A trailer hitch might be vital to one car owner, but irrelevant to another. The modem modules work under the same needs criteria.

Also, much like an automotive manufacturer, handspring realized that simply coloring the casing of the product makes the consumer feel that they have a more personalized product, and the result is a feeling of attachment. Thus the �ice is nice� style signatures.

Handspring�s clever insight is to allow personalization through options, both in color and accessories.

Bootlegging is frowned upon by many bands but not all. U2 would definitely not like it as they would consider it copyright infringement. However, U2 has no qualms with using other people's sound bits without their permission because they have the lawyers to back their no-talent butts up.

In the early 90s, U2 sued a band called Negativland for sampling their music. They managed to totally squash Negativland and destroy all but 492 copies of the record (it was a 15 minute EP). In addition, because of the legal fees, U2's action wiped out any earnings that Negativland would have received from the albums they released in the previous 10 years the band had been together, in effect, putting the band back at ground zero, finances-wise. The band also refused to do interviews with magazines that mentioned the incident, thereby keeping it hidden from the vast majority of people. (Which magazines would support a small, unknown band like Negativland at the risk of offending Bono, the Edge, and the two guys with normal names?)

A few years later, U2 went on tour and pulled audio samples from a cell phone of people's conversations (without their permission) and broadcast them to their fans at a concert. They also broadcast telephone conversations that they had (again, without the person's permission on the other end).

So, yes, I'm sure they'd have a problem with you bootlegging their shows. However, I'd bet dollars to donuts that they've got plenty of bootlegs in their own record collections.

mc

...uhh, back to modules...

Another thing I would really like is a cell phone adapter springboard, one with the same plug as the hotsync connector on the bottom. It would use the Springboard, instead of the Serial Port, so I could use the Stowaway and my Sprint StarTac to surf at the same time. The connector for the cable would be the same as the cradle connector so I wouldn't have to buy yet another cable. Further, this would be cool b/c it would work with any cellphone adapter cable!

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It was called the Six Pack

There was a killer module called the SixPack. I was announced when the Visor first came out I think. I followed it's development untill I found that it had been dropped.

It was a great idea.
Vibrating alarm.
Blinking alarm. (finally showing up on the Edge)
Modem.
Backup.
CellPhone port.
Something.

I think it was to be under $200. I would have bought that in a second if it had been released.

What about a combo of VisorPhone and Eyemodule2 to give you a cellular videophone for video-conferencing on the road? Except of course, for the fact that videophones never took off for the general public....and the VisorPhone looks to be more trouble than its worth...Oh well, just a thought.

"While I like most of the modules that are currently available, the Visor really needs a module that really sets it apart from other handheld devices."

Um, hello? That sets it APART from other handheld devices?? There are over 40 springboard modules for the Visor line, the last I checked there were less than 10 for the iPaq? Try counting how many there are for the Blackberry, the REXX, the standard Palm?

I think the closing statement of this article is ridiculous. The sheer number and variety of modules available for the Visor set it apart from other handhelds.

Do I want some of the whizbang modules the author suggests? Sure I do! But don't even try to compare the Visor to other handhelds when it comes to versatility. Give me a full assortment of modules (VisorPhone, eyemodule2, Presenter to Go, GPS) against an iPaq with a full assortment of sleeves and I will beat the iPaq hands down everytime.

I think that the auther meant to say was:

"While I like most of the modules that are currently available, the Visor really needs a module that really sets it apart from other Springboard modules."

Killer app...

I agree with what someone previously wrote - I don't want a lot of things built into the OS (including wireless). I'd prefer to add these things in if I need them.
I remember the 6-pack that InnoGear (I think...) was going to come out with. 8MB of RAM along with voice recording. At the time it sounded great. But now I'd want to add in whatever memory I want (CF, SD, MD)
I think the better modules would add memory along with the intended functionality.
Along these lines, I'd love to see a RAM module, ar at least something that can add RAM to my Visor, instead of Flash. Too many apps don't work right (Vindigo, AvantGo to name 2) if any part of them is loaded on my Flash module.
I'm also finding the Flash module isn't very useful (except as a backup module), since only apps can be loaded on it. Any databases that are ever written to by apps MUST be in RAM only. I have ebooks (DOC and PeanutPress formats) which are large and can be on the module, but one thing we overlooked is that THEY MUST FIT INTO RAM TO BE LOADED IN THE FIRST PLACE! So I see no point in getting a 16MB flash module. How would you get the stuff onto it?

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Nuncio Bitis
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1 1 was a race horse
1 2 was 1 2
Whenever 1 1 1 1 race,
1 2 1 1 2.
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quote:

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Originally posted by embryoconcepts
What about a combo of VisorPhone and Eyemodule2 to give you a cellular videophone for video-conferencing on the road?

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Re: Killer app...

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Originally posted by Nuncio
I have ebooks (DOC and PeanutPress formats) which are large and can be on the module, but one thing we overlooked is that THEY MUST FIT INTO RAM TO BE LOADED IN THE FIRST PLACE! So I see no point in getting a 16MB flash module. How would you get the stuff onto it?

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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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Re: Killer app...

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Originally posted by Rob


Actually, the ThinModem+ includes a USB file mover app that lets you directly copy files from your desktop to the memory on the module. I don't see why other flash memory module manufacturers couldn't include something similar, esp. when the modules have >8MB memory. I agree it would be cool if apps could write directly to files on flash memory modules.

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__________________
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Nuncio Bitis
Norton, MA

1 1 was a race horse
1 2 was 1 2
Whenever 1 1 1 1 race,
1 2 1 1 2.
==================================