PDA History

PDAs have always been an interest; I like the idea of devices like "Ziggy" depicted in Quantum Leap, or The Guide from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - a world (universe) of information accessible in a book-sized device; a communications hub you have everywhere, a reminder for that missed appointment or call. Some obviously fall far short of the mark.

In terms of actual use, not collection/retro interest:

(Initially, Psion MC400, but it's more of a laptop)

Psion Series 3 - 1993
Apple Newton 130 - 1995/6ish
Psion Series 3a - 1995ish
Amstrad PenPad 600 - for a short period, it was crap - I think 1995 or 6.
Psion Series 3c - 1996ish
Nokia 9000 Communicator (I think this might be how I started my Vodafone contract, not sure) - 1997
GeoFox One (and on review, various - Psion Revo/Siena) - 1997/8, GeoFox folded with my machine back at theirs for repair :/
HP 620LX - 1998
Psion Series 5mx - 1998
HP Jornada 720 (or 690, I forget which. I think it was a 720) - 1999
Nokia 9110 - 2000
Apple Newton 2100 - 2001
HP Jornada 820 - 2001
Nokia 9210 - 2001
(Footnote here: 2003 also saw the appearance of Motorola A925s from Three. They were crap).
Palm Tungsten C - 2003
Sony Clie UX50 (miss that one, it was very good) - 2004
HP iPaq HX4700 - 2005
HTC Universal and Athena - 2007

Plus retro devices from Organiser II to General Magic DataRover (I think hippiegunnut has this now, or maybe I had two of them).

I'd say they were used for 30% productivity, 50% entertainment, and 20% communication, until I got the Ameo which is all about the communication. In recent years Satnav has been a significant use of appropriate systems. The Psions were actually used more for writing/notetaking than organising, but that might reflect the disorganised nature of my lifestyle at the time.

Also, as more capabilities were added, the machines become more entertaining, if not "useful" - the last four devices all featured WiFi connectivity as standard (the Newtons were more an exercise of "how do I make this damn thing work!").

What PDAs have you owned, and how much did you actually make use of them - and how much for work, and how much for personal use? If you've used a range of devices, what did you prefer?

(no subject)

Bugs, how I love thee!

Ameo is in other room. Pick up handset which has been charging from USB, and check for missed calls.

"What missed calls do I have?"

"1087 million two hundred and 37 missed calls" (or some equally insane number, million was definitely heard).

*blink*

I never realised I was so popular. Clearly, a second check said "No missed calls". Bah.

(no subject)

IBM Z50 on eBay, but maybe leave it a couple of days if you want to get it for a couple of quid in case anyone uses BIN option :D

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320112820478

(no subject)

Testing:

Ameo now has two Bluetooth "audio" devices. BSH-100 headphones, and LG Style-i.

Since the LG is mono, a phone device, I want music and stereo audio to go to the headphones, and "phone" stuff to go to the LG. Set BSH-100 as Wireless Stereo only on the Bluetooth control panel.

Connect headphones. Obviously, with no microphone, I need to use the LG to send the commands. (I notice that it displays "Voice Command" when I tap send). Play music. Music comes through headphones. Try another command to make a phone call - confirmation of command comes through LG, phone audio comes through LG. Finish call. Music resumes when I tap play/pause on the headphones.

Somewhere there is the possibility for the Ameo to properly route audio. I think a lot of the glitches come from the CPU scaling going from 104MHz to 624MHz, without any apparent hysteresis. If the machine has been streaming audio, then it's probably safe to assume it's still going to be doing so for a few minutes ;)

Via deathboy

Party on 27th June?

Ideally somewhere he can see it.
Starring a few million people. Maybe about 66 million?

Time to bring back the street parties of the 1980s!

(no subject)

What's in a name/brand?

We'll find out.

If Hyundai bring their apparently-being-developed-and-produced Tau V8 powered coupe to the UK for a sensible price - one suiting the Hyundai brand placement - then I will be driving a Hyundai in 2009.

I don't care WHAT the badge is if I have a 300bhp V8 and RWD in a smallish car. Especially since they're also using proper suspension, none of this cheap McPherson strut crap.

(no subject)

That funny smell would be one of the indicators that a full glass of water and a mains-powered alarm clock don't, in fact, mix.

Remember kids. Always move your bedside water BEFORE making the bed.

(It was, in fact, disappointingly boring. The radio came on but went from static to nothing, the display started to go nuts before displaying : brightly, and it smelled odd. I didn't get any shocks and there was no smoke or sparking that I noticed. Said alarm clock was an old Sony Cube and was already falling apart, so is now in the bin - can't justify an iPod one (and imagine if it had been something like that that got water in it), so mechanical wind-up one for now!)

I suppose I could use the Ameo as an alarm, but the idea of that getting full of water worries and upsets me. In fact my other normal phones DID get splashed, but seem fine - it was just splashed, not immersed.

ADAT setup

I guess the figures I had in my mind were a little out of date!

CBA photographing it all, as I'm tired, but here's the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320112927222

£125 BIN. What that gets you is a complete working ADAT setup with the BRC (a sort of large console with sync connections and the ability to control several ADAT recorders) plus a spare ADAT if you get the PSU repaired on it. I've recorded about 10 minutes of song on it since 2002; whilst I liked using it, I really haven't had anything to record. I think the AI2 rackmount is kinda redundant with the BRC, but it's there anyway.

Will be able to deliver to Birmingham next week, if that's any encouragement!

Edin-burgers!

jenova_red is coming up tomorrow, and we're heading into Edinburgh on Saturday where there's a high probability that she'll be ANOTHER person beating deathboy to Ameo ownership! As far as I know our plan is then to go to Glasgow to be sociable and perhaps partake of some foul music.

I tend to forget which cool peoples live in Edinburgh (yes, snork_maiden, I know you do :D ) so if anyone's liable to be out and about for a coffee or something at lunchtime, say so :)