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

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/cn/200...andhelds_1.html

Handspring and watch maker Citizen are tinkering with a prototype add-on for the Visor handheld that would allow people to copy information from their device onto a second, credit card-sized organizer.

The yet-to-be-named unit is basically an LCD display with a small amount of memory that plugs into the Springboard expansion slot and downloads information, such as the address book, from the Visor.

A similar concept was behind the Rex, a credit card-sized device co-developed by Citizen that debuted a few years back and would sync with a PC. The Rex was sold in the United States by Franklin Electronic Publishers until last year, when Franklin sold the business to Xircom.


...we sure have been treated to a lot of news about Handspring this week!

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Columbia, MO
Posts: 125

I don't really think this would benefit me. Pretty much anyplace (so far) I go, I can take my Visor if I want it. Between the standard case, my new (anniversary present!) Fossil case, and Otterbox 2k, I'm pretty set.

I think if I had this "mini-Visor," I would find myself wanting data or apps that I hadn't loaded onto it, but I'd still be slightly encumbered by a fragile electronic device.

Although it would perhaps be nice to stick in a shirt pocket...

My $0.02.

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505 STI

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Waterloo, IA USA
Posts: 10

Loved my Rex

I loved my Rex, but gave it up because it wouldn't do enough and I could only sync with my laptop, because of its PCMCIA interface. Here's what I'd like in a Visor version:
(1) Same PCMCIA size, like a credit card. Perfect size for carrying around, IMHO.
(2) Touchscreen so you can add and edit data. Absolutely necessary.
(3) Elementary extra functions, like a calculator and a couple of games (solitaire, specifically).
(4) A programming API. It always killed me that the Rex COULD be reprogrammed but no one ever did because an API was never released.
(5) A price of $150 or less. I'm probably the only one willing to pay this much for it, right? That's because I want it to be more than just a little portable screen.
Or you could just give me a $100 Springboard that would interface my Rex (and other PCMCIA cards?). I'd probably be happy with that. (And yes, I know the technical difficulties - I'm dreaming, here.)

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 472

I'd much rather have this in a wristwatch -- something like the Casio PCUnite without the bugs.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

I'd buy one if the price was below $100. I'd use it for reference numbers and datebook reference for those times when that's all I'd need. It would have to be small enough and thin enough to fit into a wallet or credit card wallet easily.

The Rex card is not small enough to fit into an existing wallet. I believe that this was part of it's downfall or reason for poor sales. People who were interested in using it as a paper address book replacement discovered that you had to have a separate carrier or wallet and hence you might as well carry around your paper version. The advanced Rex with input capability was too slow to replace paper. That's the advantage of Palm units - it's quick on the uptake to get information into it - Rex wasn't.

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Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 49

I had suggested a similiar idea to a co-worker a couple of months ago. I have a beeper and also a visor but I don't always carry around the visor due to the size. There have been times where I could have used a beeper size device to look up phone numbers as well as receive alphnumeric pages. So my idea was to create a visor beeper SB that could work in the visor and also as a stand alone device. So if anyone from Handspring is listening add beeper like functionality to this new mini-visor and this would be a great addtion to the Handspring product line.

Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 116

I don't think this is of much value. I would like to see it in a wristwatch format though. I use the Timex DATALINK watch to keep phone numbers and a couple small memos handy. If the springboard had an LED to load to the Timex watch that would be the best for me. Otherwise just a watch that was synched to the Visor via IR would work.

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Scott Olendorf
Sony Clie N610C,
Blue Visor Deluxe, Magellan GPS Companion

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

I think this would be good if you wanted to share your calendar with your spouse. As long as I can set private items to be masked, this would be a great idea.

It's also the ultimate backup for if you break your Visor while on a trip.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

It's not a bad idea. I have an old Rex 3 I picked up for $35, and I sometimes carry it around instead of my Visor on the weekend, when I don't need that much power, something to glance at my schedule or look up a number.

I really wouldn't pay much more than $50 for such a module however.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by JHromadka
I think this would be good if you wanted to share your calendar with your spouse. As long as I can set private items to be masked, this would be a great idea.

It's also the ultimate backup for if you break your Visor while on a trip.

---

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Somerset, MA USA
Posts: 23

how bout this?...

so laugh if you must but something you could carry when you don;t wanna take the ol' visor would be pretty useful to me anyway. for example an all day, outdoor concert type thing, or other active type thing. So it should be water resistant and rubberized for durability. It can't be the size of a springboard module though.. too big. could be almost flat and just a couple inches square, all screen. No input. What you'd do is pop it into some type of carrier that would then fit in the visor to sync it. ohh yea, maybe you could put it on a chain and wear it like a dog tag.. aren't wearable computers supposed to be the next big thing? just shootin off ideas here

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

Would you really want to carry it in your wallet?

quote:

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originally posted by RSGMOOSE

It would have to be small enough and thin enough to fit into a wallet...

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

Hmm, i don't see much use for this item. however, some of you seem to be seeking/wanting a smaller device than the visor that could store phone numbers. the other day at urban outfitters i saw a pim-like device on a keychain for $30. i can't remember the stats on it but i think it stored 100 phone numbers and addresses.

sure, it can't plug into the visor and pull out info, but it's presently available, is cheap, and is smaller than the springboard filler thingy on my visor.

L.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 251

If it was also a pager that fit into a snap-in holster, I might get one.

On the weekends, I just carry a pager or cell phone, but I also wish I had access to phone numbers and memos (shopping lists, etc.).

A springboard is fine by me, but a company could have a broader audience if they made it more universal to sync with the desktop (like the Rex...). This type of product doesn't have to be Visor related at all, just small enough to carry enough data in my pocket (or pager holster).

In fact, I have considered a Rex before, but since I use the Palm Desktop, I couldn't sync easily with my data.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

Timex Datalink

I find the Timex Datalink to be something more practical than the Rex and also easier to implement, I remember there is a module with a led alarm and also were a led for the serial port on Palms. In mi wish list there is a software to sinc the alarms for the day and an address category to my watch.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

I like the idea. BUT, I think there can be quite a bit of comparison to the VMU's (virtual memory unit) on the sega dreamcast. It plugs into the controller, and has an lcd that you can take out, play mini-games on, modify stats and resynch it back with the game later by plugging it back in.

I'm not sure if I'd buy the mini-Visor though, because the Visor itself is small enough for me right now.


(off topic) finally hit my 50th post! Nothing compared to a 1000th post message I saw today! Congrats on that...

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 36

I think this is a great idea, as long as they dont try to put too many features into it. My dad still refuses to switch over to a handspring. He has a rex card for phone numbers and stuff and a big clunky franklin unit to carry around medical journals. he has been interested in the idea of a organizer that would hold his info, has input options, and could also hold his medical books. But he wants something very small when he only needs phone numbers and schedules, hence he still carries around one of the original rex cards.

Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 116

quote:

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Originally posted by mensachicken
i saw a pim-like device on a keychain for $30. i can't remember the stats on it but i think it stored 100 phone numbers and addresses.

L.

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I have an even cheaper way to store 100 numbers in my wallet. The old fashioned piece of paper.

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Scott Olendorf
Sony Clie N610C,
Blue Visor Deluxe, Magellan GPS Companion

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Lausanne / Switzerland
Posts: 2

Don't know if someone already posted this ... but here's the pics of this "mini-visor".

http://visorguide.online.fr/launch/citizenkidsmall.jpg
http://visorguide.online.fr/launch/citizenkid2small.jpg

Rgds

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- www.hypposoftware.com -

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Jefferson Citym MO, USA
Posts: 6

Interesting photos! It looks like the unit will have a touchscreen. I would be interested to see whether it will execute applications other than the standard ROM apps. If not, will it at least be able to back up the entire contents of the Visor? At a price range of $60 or under, it might make an attractive alternative to a Backup module. Put it with an attachable 2-way pager module (with maybe even a "Blackberry" style keyboard), and things would get even more interesting.

Another thought: Why not a Springboard adapter for PCs? Besides allowing this device to be hotsynced, it would open up possibilities for using other Springboards (GPS, CDPD, etc.). This might encourage more potential Springboard developers.

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jpkovar