Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 53

- read this on ZD net Japan

mds (www.mds2000.co.jp) announced their springCAM on 2/23,
digital camera module for Springboard. these are spec;

-300,000 pixels cmos sensor, 640 x 480
-90 degree swivel lens, 50cm - infi.
-it has CF card slot!!!! (not only the memory storage cards, but they say it can also handle wireless modem cards which are very popular in Japan these days)
-use its own battery (don`t say which kind)
-auto/manual(!!!) exposure
-self timer
-for about $300-350 (it`s less than 30,000 yen)

right, seems like it`s what most of us waiting for!!

they don`t have any picture of the actual thing, but they are the company handling Blocks` eyemodule sales in Japan, so I guess they did some homework already. it said it`ll be
out in this April, guess I`d better get a ticket to Japan.

information is pretty new, I think I haven`t seen anyone talked about it here yet, but if somebody did it already, let me know. meanwhile I got to go back to their site and do some more reading...which, of course, in Japanese.
good to born in Japan...

u-key

Last edited by u-key on 02-26-2001 at 06:44 PM

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

wow! cool news....one question. Will I need a trailer on my car to carry this thing around?

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Stealth-Mod.

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

/me want.
/me want now.
/me want now or ELSE!

The size is an issue though.. I mean we've just been able to barely fit a compactflash card into a springboard slot, how do you do that AND put an eyemodule on that? I would love this, esecne the eyemodule only lets you store as many images as your Visor's mem, and no way to offload them onto another springboard. (what they SHOULD DO!)

Good Idea though..

/me want
/me want now
/me want now or ELSE!

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-miradu

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 714

I don't think it would be too large, maybe about the size of the Handspring modem?

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Matt Nichols
[email protected]

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 53

size

I sent a e-mail to mds, asked to put out some photo or at least some English pages, hope they could do it.

yes, size does matter, but I want to believe "Japanese are good at making things small".

at the same time, I see it as more of a 2-in-one module, since they are saying "can use CF card modem" and if it's true, that seems like it could work as stand alone module as CF card adapter. meaning you don't have to carry two module, and more over, you could do multiple tasks with just one "little bit bulky" module.
take pictures, store most of them into CF memory card, switch to CF wireless modem card and send e-mail with pictures from Visor's internal memory, that is a killer....

wait a sec. do we have CF wireless modem card in this country? like I said, it's pretty popular in Japan since last year, and they could handle up to 64kbps (download).

...well, after a short research, closest thing is CF wireless LAN card and Bluetooth card... now I got to find who makes cellphone with Bluetooth...

u-key

Last edited by u-key on 02-27-2001 at 12:25 PM

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Madison,AL
Posts: 25

GPS Companion & Solus Pro 2.0 Problems

I just purchased the Magellan GPS Companion and I have been using it with Solus Pro 2.0 (previously with Earthmate + adapter). When I am zooming/panning or changing screens I tend to lose communications with the GPS. The icon at the top goes from "3D" to the "O" with slash through it. I can go to the GPS menu and do a disconnect and connect and it will reacquire sync.

This is VERY frustrating and I'm not sure if this is a Solus problem or Magellan GPS Companion problem? I have used Solus with their Earthmate for several months and didn't notice this problem, so I have to assume this is an issue with the Magellan.

I am using Solus Pro 2.0 (build 9/26/00) which appears to be the latest on their Web-site. I have also updated all of the Magellan s/w from their Web-site.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 201

Re: GPS Companion & Solus Pro 2.0 Problems

quote:

---

Originally posted by timpearson
I just purchased the Magellan GPS Companion and I have been using it with Solus Pro 2.0 (previously with Earthmate + adapter). When I am zooming/panning or changing screens I tend to lose communications with the GPS. The icon at the top goes from "3D" to the "O" with slash through it. I can go to the GPS menu and do a disconnect and connect and it will reacquire sync.

This is VERY frustrating and I'm not sure if this is a Solus problem or Magellan GPS Companion problem? I have used Solus with their Earthmate for several months and didn't notice this problem, so I have to assume this is an issue with the Magellan.

I am using Solus Pro 2.0 (build 9/26/00) which appears to be the latest on their Web-site. I have also updated all of the Magellan s/w from their Web-site.

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

I suppose that if it is really going to be able to use non standard CF cards, it would have to use its own battery.

Uffda--CF adapter, battery, and the lens described would be plenty big...

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

after thinking about it, and looking at the costs, i'd rather pay another $99 and get the Elph digital for $399. That way I'm carrying around a nice compact digital camera with CF card capability and my Visor is neither the size of a grapefruit nor the weight!


P.S: http://www.circuitcity.com/frame1.j...amp;search=ELPH

I know it says $499, but I just saw it for $399 at the local CircuitCity. I'm | | that close to buying one.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA
after thinking about it, and looking at the costs, i'd rather pay another $99 and get the Elph digital for $399. That way I'm carrying around a nice compact digital camera with CF card capability and my Visor is neither the size of a grapefruit nor the weight!

---

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

I'm disappointed by the resolution offered. The EyeModule2 already offers 640x480 resolution so it's not really anything special other than having a CF slot which is of course very nifty. The camera itself though- well....

In this day of digital cameras, anything below 1500x1000 is considered to be in the toy market. Heck, even the Barbie digital camera can do 640x480. If this module won't do 1.5 Megapixels in true resolution, then you're better off with a true digital camera instead.

I'm in the industry- PhotoWorks.com. Our Uploader for making prints from digital images needs a minimum 740x420 to make a decent 4x6 print or larger. The low end cameras just don't cut it, I'm afraid.

-Dan C.
-Technical Support
-PhotoWorks.com Inc.

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Green Vdx
The Mountain Dew of PDA's.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 125

Re: size

>wait a sec. do we have CF wireless modem card in this
>country? like I said, it's pretty popular in Japan
>since last year, and they could handle up to 64kbps
>(download).

Actually, Go America just annouced service for the Casio PDA using a CF wireless modem. I saw a picture of the modem on cnet.com (rather large, comparable in size to the @ctivelink IMO) but its something. GoAmerica.net has a press release on their site announcing the new service but I saw no other mention of it on their site. So I guess they do exist in the US, we just can't use them now with the PalmOS.

Marty

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 53

yeah, I know what you saying

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA
[B]after thinking about it, and looking at the costs, i'd rather pay another $99 and get the Elph digital for $399. That way I'm carrying around a nice compact digital camera with CF card capability and my Visor is neither the size of a grapefruit nor the weight!

so, I guess I'll wait and see what they come up with...

u-key

oh, thanks Marty! for your info.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

just as a follow-up OFF TOPIC comment...


I just purchased the Elph S100 digital camera.

The size of this thing is 3.4 in x 1.1 in x 2.2 in / 0.4 lbs


2.11 megapixel and the ability to do panoramic shots!! Unbelievable little camera!

Today (28th of Feb) is the last day for free shipping from Buy.com.

Saved $85!(with free shipping and no tax) $439 (It was actually originally priced at $499 not $399 as i mentioned above)


Enough off topic comments....

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Stealth-Mod.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 96

Until a company gives us a digital camera Springboard that will compete/replace my Nikon Coolpix 950...I don't think this is a market I care about. However, if you are in class and can't resist taking a picture of some girl and beaming it to your buddy...go right ahead

just my 2 cents!

sam

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