Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

[slightly off-topic but please indulge me]

Guess my somewhat agonizing decision to go to the Aero 1550 has been fully vindicated. I most missed the voice recording feature of the Pocket PC /Win CE devices. I had LONG held out-from 10/99 to 6/2000 in the hope that either the 6 pack or some other module would include simple voice recording.

Today (after 2 weeks away) I see where the recording function has been removed from both the MiniJam AND the 'Six-Pak' (sic).

Maybe it's me but almost a year since the PDA's been out with not ONE module capable of hooking up to the microphone circuitry is a huge embarrassment. Sony at least will not make that mistake with theirs.

Mike

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 49

Where did you get this information?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

www.innogear.com

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Posts: 181

Could you tell us more specifically where on the site? I just looked again and the 6 pack listing still includes the voice recorder w/ speaker.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

Well under the FAQ section for SixPak it's been removed-it still shows under general product info it's still listed (as number 3)

mike

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Plainview, NY
Posts: 116

Personally I think that Innogear should get it's act together. Their items are way over priced and seems to to be vapor(hard)ware
Why shoud a module be more expensive that a comparable item. Just look at the pricing of new mp3 players and the Minijam. Please do not give me a supply & demand answer or the rising cost of flash memory. The modules should never be more expensive than a VDX.


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Dave B (Grandpa Geek)"If it ain't broke, don't fix it yet!
BUT IF IT IS PLEEZ FIX"

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 241

quote:

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Originally posted by dabirk:
Personally I think that Innogear should get it's act together. Their items are way over priced and seems to to be vapor(hard)ware
Why shoud a module be more expensive that a comparable item. Just look at the pricing of new mp3 players and the Minijam. Please do not give me a supply & demand answer or the rising cost of flash memory. The modules should never be more expensive than a VDX.

---

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

quote:

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And if you concider that it can also be storage for your visor, AND will have software upgrades to make it a voice recorder (I think), it's quite a good deal!

---

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Q: What is The SixPak Combo?

A: The SixPak Combo, considered by many to be the �killer� Springboard Module. It packs SIX useful features into one, standard size Springboard Module:

56Kbps WIRELINE MODEM: V.90 phone modem connects at up to 56Kbps directly to phone lines without the need of any dongle

CELLULAR CAPABLE MODEM: External expansion port allows a data connection with Cellular phones while on the road (optional cable will be sold separately by InnoGear)

VIBRATING ALARM: Silent alert (vibratory) allows for alarms in situations where beeps are inappropriate

FLASHING LED ALARM: Visual alert flashes red or green through the integrated HotSync

MEMORY EXPANSION FOR YOUR VISOR: 8-Megabytes of Flash memory allows for OEM developer bundles, program storage and data backup.

For Innogear to delete the voice recorder function (way more important than the vibrating alarm or or flashing LED, for which there are already $40 modules) from the SixPak's product description while maintaining the claim that it "packs SIX useful features" can only be attributed to duplicity on the company's part -- unless it was an oversight. Would someone from Innogear like to chime in here?

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 07-15-2000).]

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Florence, Kentucky, USA
Posts: 7

I sent Innogear an e-mail today, and their response was that the six-pack will still have voice recording and playback capabilities!!!!!!!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

Hmmm, maybe they meant to edit the MiniJam page.

Anyone besides me think it was odd that the VC interview with Bob Fullerton steered clear of the Six-Pack? I clicked on the link to the article in great anticipation of learning about the six-er and...no joy. If I had a captive audience of Innogear, I'd ask 'em all day long about the six-pack.

Maybe I'm the only person that interested in it.

Disclaimer: This is not a slam on the the interview per se, but speculative critisism on the (likely pre-interview) "ground-rules" of the questioning.

Anyone else?

tyler

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Tyler:

I see you are a cynic . I can see where you are coming from though. One would think that the interviewer would ask some questions about the most anticipated module for the visor.

I will take innogear at their word though. They said that their six-pack will *be* a six pack with voice recorder according to an earlier post. If they don't deliver, they are going to face a huge consumer backlash. One in which they will not recover from.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 79

I'm sure Innoger will get six-pak out eventualy.

Innogear.....some words of advice....You need to be more like the Palm guys. Don't even talk about your new products until they are ready ship. When the Palm V came out, it was under so much of a secret about the only thing anyone knew about it was it was code named RAZOR. I beleive you have made a big mistake by posting your product details so far in advance......

I'll still buy a six-pak after I have seen reviews but for future reference.....don't get us all excited.

Heyday

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

SixPak is still as SixPak...we are still a voice recorder...we will check into the web site information....we are completely rebuilding the web site, so possibly someting happened to the text data.

Hang in there people...we are building a company that is dedicated to bringing Springboards solutions to the market...we are a startup and growing fast. As far as pricing goes, we cannot help that there is price gouging on memory chips and other key components...several articles about this market fact has been posted on this web site by others...your complaints should be directed to those companies getting rich off of the short supply/high demand/worldwide shortages of key components. We are at very normal margins, but we are running a business would never sell products below our cost.

Thanks!
InnoGear.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

quote:

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Originally posted by tyler:
Hmmm, maybe they meant to edit the MiniJam page.

Anyone besides me think it was odd that the VC interview with Bob Fullerton steered clear of the Six-Pack?

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No conspiracy there. I talked with Bob more on the MiniJam because that was the product that was about to come out. Since I had spoken with him already on release dates (I was getting 1-2 emails daily asking when the SixPak was coming out) I was more interested in the MiniJam, as that was the module that was on display the most. You're absolutely right in that I should have asked more questions about the SixPak. I was just more interested in the reader/writer capabilities of the MiniJam at the time.



------------------
James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.Hromadka.com

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

quote:

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Originally posted by JHromadka:
No conspiracy there. I talked with Bob more on the MiniJam because that was the product that was about to come out.

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Well shucks! Just once I want to have one of my conspiracy theories prove out to be true! :P Oh well, I'll just have ot wait a little longer for more Six info.

Innogear -- whoever you are -- thanks for you comments on this board. It is encouraging to hear a company's responses to our concerns. Tough luck the price of components. I sure wouldn't mind an mp3 player that adds 64+MB of storage to my Visor, but alas, I am but a poor man saving money for a Six-Pack. If you need any beta help though...

tyler

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Thanks, Innogear, for taking the time to respond.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: LA, CA
Posts: 4

This is why its more then just an MP3 Player!
See if your other portables can do this..


- The worlds first MP3 Player for the PalmOS. MiniJam is a plug-and-play
hardware device for the Handspring Visor Springboard Expansion System.

-. MiniJam plays MP3 files and comes in two memory configurations; 32
Megabyte and 64 Megabyte.
-MiniJam currently supports up to 128 Megabytes (2 hours) using optional
MMC Upgrade.
-Other "non music" uses of MP3 include news, spoken word, etc..., MiniJam
will be supporting various spoken word applications and services.
-MiniJam is more than just a MP3 Player...MiniJam brings a full multimedia
experience and useful utilities to the Visor user including
- Megabyte FLASH memory expansion
-Mass storage of PalmOS Applications and Database files (stored on the
MMC).
-Programmable, flashing LED Silent Alarm.
-A suite of pre-loaded applications that provide a full multimedia
experience on the Visor including:
-MiniJukeBox: Our MP3 player.
1. Full playback control including Play, Pause, Stop, Next Track, Previous
Track, Fast Forward, Rewind, etc...
2. Full track information including song name, title, artist, sample rate
and frequency (quality)
3. Playlist management
4. Graphic Equalizer with sliding control bars.
5. ID3 TAG information (complete information about the song track)
6. SKINS!! MiniJam provides this popular desktop software feature on a Palm
screen!!!
ii. "eBooks"
1. Pre-loaded new version of "Peanut Reader" from Peanut Press plus sample
eBook and magazine. Read eBooks on your Visor.
iii. Image Viewer and Slide Show
1. Pre-loaded version of "Album to Go" from Club Photo . Drag and drop any
bitmap image on your desktop computer to MiniJam. View images one at a
time, or as a slide show.
iv. Entertainment
4. MiniJam comes complete with:
a. MiniJam Springboard Module that includes the 2 Megabyte Internal Flash
Memory Expansion for the Visor with pre-loaded multimedia applications, user
control button on top, headphone jack, Auxilery DC Jack for external
extended power accessories.
i. MiniJam comes in ICE or GRAPHITE
b. High Quality Headphones ).
c. Desktop MP3 utility programs including MusicMatch PLUS (a $29.99 value);
full retail version.
d. Sample MP3 Songs and content including tracks from eMusic.
e. SanDisk MMC storage cards (totaling 32MB or 64MB depending on SKU)
f. A free user account at minijam.com, the community and content site
companion to MiniJam.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 241

quote:

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Originally posted by Gameboy70:
Thanks, Innogear, for taking the time to respond.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 434

Well, the MiniJam sounds like it should be good. It is expensive though.

If you're interested only in MP3 playback though, another option is one of those CD-R/MP3 players. But buyer beware... I ordered a MamboX and the company I ordered from (not Tagram) went bankrupt and took my money with them. So, now I've ordered a Genica. Unfortunately, neither do high bitrate MP3 or VBR very well from what I hear. The main benefit is the 650 MB storage space, but size is an issue, not to mention the lack of features. However, if you were thinking of a CD portable already, this may be a good option.

[This message has been edited by Eug (edited 07-17-2000).]