Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 37

Would it be possible to take the Filemover PRC from a YadaYada modem and use it to access the flash memory on a Omnisky branded Minstrel S?? I'm sure many Omnisky users would love to try this, as would I, but I don't have access to the yadayada file. Has anyone tried this? Would any YadaYada users post their filemover.prc? The easiest way to get the file would be to select the 'backup expansion cards' option in BackupBuddy and then sync with the modem inserted.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

Omnisky doesn't have FileMover on its Minstrels? I thought all modules had FileMover.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 37

nope, omnisky has chosen not to make it available to their users. anyone who can do this?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

"nope, omnisky has chosen not to make it available to their users"

I've been eyeing that free minstrel deal from Omnisky lately. The idea of getting that 2MB of flash was actually a big part of my reasoning. So now I am to understand that Omnisky somehow has prevented folks from accessing this memory?

I guess I still have a few questions:

1. Are the Omnisky applications stored in this same space? So are we really just asking for access to whatis left over out of 2MB after their apps are installed. If so, I might understand their reasoning. If they want to upgrade firmware in the future, they may want to reserve the space for themselves.

2. This one is just general curiosity: I don't own any "true" springboards (except the passive Matchbookdrive). When you insert the MinstrelS, do the programs run off of the module, or do they install themselves into the Visor RAM? I see no reason why they would have to install into RAM, but I recall reading that they in fact do. Seems to defeat the purpose of the springboard to an extent.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 76

Don't get the Omnisky if you think you'll gain RAM. You'll actually *lose* on the order of ~1-2M. And yes, the core apps do install themselves in RAM for some inexplicable reason. I've found that I can delete the RAM copies of the Omnisky app, OS Mail, Yahoo Messenger, and ScoutSync, and run the ROM copies without a problem (YMMV, and do NOT mention that you've done this to tech support; it's a great excuse for them not to talk to you). This saves you a few hundred K, but you still take a large hit to RAM. Also, every time you try to reinsert the module, it tries to reinstall the files you deleted (you can prevent this simply by hitting the apps (little house) icon when it asks to reinstall).

As an aside, there are apps (such as BrowseIt), that allow you to download .prc and .pdb files directly from the web to your Visor. I can delete those apps that I never use but think I can't live without and download them from the web when necessary. I can be tedious and excruciatingly slow, but in a few cases has helped me to save a few K.