Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 70

From the handspring website on 5/17
"The Handspring Visor supports upgrades to the operating system (OS) via Springboard modules and software patches."
Looks to me like they can in some way flash the ROM from the springboard in a way that the serial connection on the bottom can't hit.

I talked with some phone monkey in customer service the other day, and he seemed to indicate an OS revision would be comming pretty quickly.
BigDrew

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 70

Here is the link to the site where i got the above info: http://www.handspring.com/products/visorfaq.asp

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 34

Another quote from the same link:

'We do not use "flash" memory to store the OS for several reasons...'

I don't think you can flash non-flash ROM no matter what its source. Without knowing the details, I'd guess that the springboard module (the OS update springboard????) would copy one or more .prc files as OS patches in the same way Palm does.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 26

So an OS Update would come pretty quickly, heh?

Hmm. Seems like Handspring is aware of some problems, that need to be fixed though. I'd love to have an integrated nostreak or whatever.

Hardly can't use any greyscale apps, like Silver or Arena).

BTW: If there WILL be an os upgrade, it surely will be a software patch to load into the ram.


greetz,

trinitron

Registered: Jan 2000
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Posts: 434

While it is possible to patch the OS, I doubt we will be seeing anything along these lines from Handspring. From their point of view, the support issues associated with issueing a patch are likely to be severe enough that a patch is only likely if a major problem is found. Given how long the Visor has now been on the market, with no reports of a real show stopper problem, I think it is safe to say that a patch is now unlikely. If we were going to get a patch, it would already be out . . .

Registered: Jan 2000
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Posts: 391

6 months. That's how long it's been out. That's not very long at all.

Registered: Sep 1999
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Posts: 81

Actually, as far as technology is concerned, 6 months is about 1/2 a lifetime, so they've been out for a while now.

Registered: May 2000
Location: London
Posts: 1

So if the Visor OS 3.1 is the same (or very similar) to Palm OS 3.3 why can't I find the option to use IRComm rather than a modem for connecting to the net?

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

kels - I'm assuming that you missed the import of the Handspring FAQ's mention of "IRComm Implementation" being a "Yes, with third-party software"?

While the FAQ is accurate, it gives the impression that v3.1h is better (with some tradeoffs) than v3.3; and this is argueably true for some, if not most, users. For those of us wanting to use IR for communications and/or syncing, v3.1h is not the equal of v3.3. For your purposes, you'll need that third-pary software - IR Link from IS/Complete - http://www.iscomplete.org/IrLink15/irlinkf3.htm

[This message has been edited by yucca (edited 05-30-2000).]