Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

How about we actually GET the modules promised BEFORE we ask for more. Seems that manufacturers are long on promises of great modules, but can't produce a thing!

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Krakow, Poland
Posts: 2

I have seen a module that collects modem, Ethernet adaptor, vibrating alarm etc.

I would like to have a module containing:
- ethernet adaptor,
- modem adaptor,
- GSM modem adaptor,
- GSM module - so that I could install SIM card into, and have just cellular-phone.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

How about a GPS module with H2G2 built in.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

quote:

---

I would like to have a module containing:
- ethernet adaptor,
- modem adaptor,
- GSM modem adaptor,
- GSM module - so that I could install SIM card into, and have just cellular-phone.

---

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Louisville KY, USA
Posts: 43

You know, it just occurred to me that most of the suggestions on this springboard wish list involved primarily hardware expansion. I would really appreciate a springboard that would give me TRUE word processing capabilities. Maybe Correl could dust off it's old Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS and revamp it into Wordperfect 5.1 for palm OS. It would be especially nice if it could seemlessly work with a desktop version.

FYI, I recently saw Wordperfect for Linux for about $20. I think that it was inexpensive because they were able to throw off the shackles of Microsoft's operating system. (just a thought)

Anyhoo, a springboard module from a big player (like Corel's Wordperfect)able to sync with their desktop version seemlessly. I remember when I had Wordperfect 5.1 for Dos the whole program, complete with help, was something less than 5 megs. I'm thinking they could fit something like that into a springboard pretty easily and still have 2 or 3 megs left over in flash memory for "backing up" your documents.

With the Stowaway Keyboard so very very close ::mines ordered:: I think Word Processing is an untapped resource just screaming for development.

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Dave

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

Dave,

That's a great point. I too am disappointed that there are not more options for basic 'Office' apps: word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. While DataViz has some conduits for Word and Excel files, along with Palm OS Readers, it doesn't allow updating on the Palm. Cesinc has products that let you update spreadsheets and documents on the Palm, but it doesn't have a conduit for synching Word docs. I don't know if anyone has an app to view/edit powerpoint slides (even just the text/bullets without the graphics would be something).
I think a springboard that provides both on-the-palm editing and automatic synchronization of Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and at least some limited PowerPoint slides, would be a real killer app.

Rob

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

How about a wireless web access module that allows us to access the web and E-mail like the Palm VII (without an additional cell phone)

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Posts: 89

quote:

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Originally posted by argent:
It would have to be organized differently frmom the 8M module, because (if I am not mistaken) that would exceed the address space of the Dragonball processor.

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Arget,

The Dragonball processor has a 32 bit address space and should be able to access up to 4 Gigabytes of memory. Information and documentation on the <A HREF="http://199.104.132.208/ProdCat/psp/0,1250,MC68EZ328~934310090795,00.html" TARGET=_blank>DragonBall� EZ</A> processor can be found on the Motorola site.

I believe that the Palm OS only addresses the first 8 Megs of RAM but I haven't found proof of that yet. The Handspring Development Kit (release 1.0) has this to say about the address space of the Springboard expansion slot.

quote:

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"�In Handspring's first product, the Visor's handheld, 32 MB of address space is reserved for the Springboard expansion slot. The base address and size may change in future releases�"

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So why not go all the way and develop a 32-MB module?

[This message has been edited by Ed Gain (edited 04-12-2000).]

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

The original Dragonball had a flat 32-bit address space. The Dragonball EZ has multiple chunks of address space organized using 4 chip select lines, with CSA and CSB giving you access to 4 16MB chunks of memory, and CSC and CSD giving you access to another 4 4MB chunks. The Dragonball VZ increases the address space for the 4 chunks addressed by CSC and CSD to 16 MB.
http://199.104.132.208/ProdCat/sg/0...0090795,00.html