I enjoy the fact that Farscape is relatively true to life. It constantly evolves, the same character's continue to be important, but new characters enter and old ones leave. I mean really do you still have all the same friends you had in high school? In college? Time changes everything and while they may still have importance to you, you don't always see them, or even think about them as much.
The ever changing landscape of characters is extremely interesting. Some are annoying, some are cool, and all of them add new elements and depth to the plot.
Overall I find it superior to the shows that are only episodic and always have the same characters with no chance that they'll die or evolve. Data from ST:TNG is a perfect example. I can't think of how many different shows they had him learn emotions or different elements of being human only to have him revert back to emotionless android the next time.
Farscape's risk taking with new characters and plot is to be commended. It resembles life better, though I will admit that their occasional flights of fancy and wierdness both delight and scare (the cartoon episode).
Overall it's a wonderful show that makes for some damn good entertainment.
Are what's going to kill you. Having to support software and software interoperability between different platforms can be a serious pain. A mono-culture is easier when dealing with software. However if you are presented with a significant enough savings from another platform, consider it.
Your admins, if they're any good, should be able to adapt to a different UNIX easily. Yes there are differences, but not ones that should trouble an experienced admin any longer then it takes him to read a couple man pages.
Hell the "special effects" from the first three (IV, V and VI) are much better then the tripe that he's churning out now. Models make a much more real and gritty world, then the shiny silver spaceships he's using now. You don't suffer from the it's too clean to be in the picture obnoxious effect that CGI tends to have. That and models (the Rancor) tend to move correctly or at least better then computer models.
I am actually trying to figure out how to reverse this process and re-uuencode all of my emails so that I can port them to a different system and not lose the attachments. Have you run into anything that can do this?
It's amazing how as more and more police powers are being granted that the whole innocent until proven guilty thing is going out the window.
These days they collect information on bad tips, and hunches. The lack of oversight is appalling. I do admit that some of the laws where overly tight. The whole must get a warrant for each device for tapping is a bit extreme, even as a privacy advocate. What I don't like are the fishing expeditions that they're engaging in now. Especially they're imply threats against those who don't cooperate. The whole "your unamerican and not patriotic" if you don't wholly bend over and take it from law enforcement is a bit much.
Speeding for me is a great example. Arbitrarily enforced and most often broken by officers without need (no lights or sirens). It seems that many officers take their badge as a right to be outside the law. TV shows and movies make police look bad, but when some of the real stories come out... it's usually so much worse then the fiction that you wonder why we ever wanted to trust these people.
I will also be the first to admit that law enforcement is a thankless task. I do appreciate those individuals that are honestly serving.
I actually uninstalled the most recent version of Quicken. Up until this last year they had my business as I would purchase a copy of Quicken Deluxe with Turbotax Deluxe so I could do my taxes. I was burned on the fact that I *had* to register for a Quicken.com account so that I could download stockquotes etc, to keep my 401(k) and investments up to date, despite the fact that I didn't need to in the previous years version. I sent a couple bitchy emails to Quicken, but am certain that I got ignored. I'm tempted to backtrack to Quicken 98 or 99 because that was before they integrated IE, which does seem to have slowed it does seriously.
You head may not be food, but as far as a microwave is concerned... if you put your head in one, it would cook just like food. It's that whole contains water thing.
I've been wondering about this for a while. Why is that people seem to be so unconcerned about frequencies that operate in their microwave to cook food, but are perfectly willing to put handsets that operate at similar frequencies right next to their head, or laptops that use Wi-Fi in their laps? I know it is based off of different power outputs, but still some of these we use for hours at a time. It hardly seems safe.
Now lights with a potential solution being offered of going up to the 5 GHz spectrum for communication devices.
Amateur radio operators I plead with you (since I am one, but am not active enough to remember some of this stuff) to provide info on use of various handsets at high frequencies next to your head.
It all depends on what your looking for... and admitedly what I'm talking about are PDAs only.
Marketing has a lot to do with it as well and what you can buy easily. I've seen Sony, Handspring, and Palm in different stores. I don't think I've ever seen a Handera device. I'm discounting the combo phone/pda's because they aren't what I consider a good technology mix. (right now at least)
It surprises me a little that all these companies are coming out with these designs so late in the term of the support of the current processor. Given the move to ARM architecture you would think they would want to wait a little bit.
However feature-wise it is starting to integrate in the right direction. The onscreen text-area makes so much sense it surprises me that more people haven't done it (yes Handera, but they aren't as mainstream as Palm, Sony, and Handspring). The larger amounts of RAM for both the flash and for apps and storage make these much more attractive then the other makers.
If only Sony's support for these wasn't so shoddy they are pretty clearly offering one of the technologically best Palm platforms right now. If I hadn't just bought a different one I would be buying one of these.
Given how long most of these sites seem to hold up to a/.ing.. Here's the text.
AsiaGadgets May 08, 2002 Review: Sony Clie PEG-NR70 Handheld
Sony Clie NR70 HandheldSony's latest Clie is a radical and welcome departure from the traditional design of the handheld PDA. Introducing innovations that have never been seen before on a Palm OS based device, the Clie PEG-NR70 and its digital camera bearing cousin NR70V have generated a flurry of excitement among PDA aficionados. This hands-on review takes a first look at what all the buzz is about.
Unique Form Factor
The most easily recognized innovation is the folding "clam shell" form factor. This design choice parallels the progression of mobile phone design in Japan, where ever-larger color LCD screens left little room for number keys that human fingers could comfortably press. In the pursuit of more surface real estate, Japanese mobile phone manufacturers decided to risk the stigma associated with flip phone designs -- a stigma largely caused by Motorola's unattractive and dated models -- by splitting the phone into two halves: an LCD screen on the upper half and a keypad on the lower half. These two halves are thin enough that folding the phone results in a thickness that is still thinner than most mobile phones sold in Europe and the U.S.
PDAs have always had large screens, so when Sony decided to add a keyboard, there was no choice but to follow a similar design philosophy. The NR70 has two very thin folding halves, with an LCD screen and keyboard on the upper and lower halves, respectively. The thickness of this Clie, when closed, feels about the same as a Palm III. But the real innovation is the ability to swivel the screen 180 degrees and fold it over the other half, morphing the device into the handheld form factor that most people are accustomed to using with a stylus. These two modes can be thought of as "keyboard input mode" and "stylus input mode."
Larger Screen Swivels 180 Degrees
The color LCD screen, like those found on previous iterations of the Clie, is a joy to look at. The high resolution screen is bright, text and graphics are sharp, and the 65,536 colors are as vibrant as one can expect from a handheld. But that's not why so many people are excited about the NR70.
Another major innovation Sony introduced for this model, the 320-by-480 pixel 16-bit color screen, is perhaps the most significant. For years, Palm devices have been plagued by an immutable silk-screened input area that occupies valuable screen real estate, while competing devices feature larger displays with less wasted space. Sony's new Clie is the first Palm-based handheld to nix the permanent silk-screened input area in favor of a software-based area displayed at the bottom of the new, larger LCD screen.
You might think that the apps on the NR70 would be lining up to take advantage of this newly liberated screen real estate. Unfortunately, you would be wrong. It appears that there is only a single application, the built-in image viewer, that can temporarily hide the input area and use the entire screen. Although it would be great to be able to use the entire vertical screen length to view calendars, memos, e-books, and other application data, this is not yet possible on this Clie, mostly likely due to limitations inherent in version 4.1 of the Palm OS. While there are no guarantees, hopefully a subsequent update to the underlying software will enable more applications to utilize the entire screen.
Integrated Keyboard
The QWERTY-style keyboard is a boon even to those who have become proficient at stylus entry via the Graffiti input system. Much like the RIM Blackberry communications device, the keyboard on the NR70 is most easily used with two thumbs. Using just these two digits, text input via the keyboard was surprisingly easy and quick. Despite years of experience with Graffiti input, I soon preferred text entry via the keyboard to pecking away at the screen with the stylus.
Sony Clie NR70 KeyboardThe keyboard has four modifier keys on the left side: Shift, Control, Function, and Alt. The Function key is used to enter numbers, which are located along the top row of the alphabet letter keys. Entering numbers this way was a bit cumbersome but not as difficult as one might expect. Symbols, on the other hand, are scattered among the remaining letter keys and can be difficult to locate quickly. Thankfully, common punctuation characters such as the comma and period have their own keys.
I did find one significant annoyance, however, when using the keyboard to enter contact data. Sony/Palm made it too difficult to use the keyboard to move from one field to another. The tab key would seem like the most intuitive method, but this simply inserts a tab character into the field. (Somebody please explain to me the purpose of entering tabs into contact fields. Good reasons for doing this are completely eluding me.) Not being the type to read instruction manuals, I unsuccessfully tried every possible combination of modifier keys along with the arrow keys, return key, and even the jog dial. I had to put down the Clie and vent my frustrations via an hour of indescriminate bedlam before I was able to clear my mind, pick the NR70 back up, and discover that control-tab and shift-control-tab are the magic ingredients. However, hitting control-tab with just the left thumb requires too much hand contorting, and using two thumbs is even harder due to the size and placement of these keys. Eventually I decided that the best solution was to simply use my left index fingernail to manually place the cursor in the next field. If the developers out there are listening, I strongly urge them to at least allow for a "Tab key moves between fields" preference somewhere in a subsequent update to the software.
Other buttons on the Clie include Sony's signature Jog Dial that is used to scroll up and down, as well as to select the current item by pushing in the Jog. Also on the left side of the bottom half of the device is the Back button, which is used when the user wishes to cancel a Jog Dial operation. Rounding out the buttons on the left side is the Hold button, which seems to have little use other than in conjunction with the Audio Player application.
Faster Processor
The Clie NR70 is the first Palm OS device to sport the new 66MHz Motorola Dragonball Super VZ. Twice as fast as other handhelds powered by the Palm OS, this processor made the NR70 feel much snappier than competing Palm and Handspring devices. While not as fast as processors found in other handheld platform designs, this CPU allows the NR70 to perform responsively while yielding longer battery life than handhelds with faster processors.
Software Graffiti
Software Graffiti Input AreaSeveral welcome enhancements have been introduced to the no-longer-static input area, although it is unclear whether these improvements were made by Sony, Palm, or collaboration between the two companies. The most notable enhancement is visual feedback when using the stylus to draw on the input area. A square dot appears when the stylus is first placed on one of the two input boxes, and a thin line follows the movement of the stylus until it is lifted from the screen. This helps visualize what is being entered in the input area and reduces errant stylus strokes.
Other handy aspects of the new input area include a clock in the lower right-hand corner, an LCD brightness control, battery power indicator, and an icon that appears when a Memory Stick has been inserted. There is also a button which brings up an on-screen keyboard inside the input area that is much more space efficient than having a separate window appear above the input area.
Synchronization
Initial attempts to HotSync the NR70 via the USB cradle with an Apple iBook running OS X 10.1.3 and Palm's recently released Palm Desktop 4.0 software produced a "serial port is currently in use" error, despite reports of successful HotSyncs between this configuration and previous Clie models. This error was particularly interesting since serial ports have not been featured on Macs for many years. Hopefully either Palm, Sony, or third parties such as MarkSpace will provide a solution to this problem.
Luckily, a spare Vaio running Win2k/J was handy to test the synchronization capabilities of the new Clie. The included installer CD for Win32 platforms provided an easy-to-follow bevy of installation options. I opted for a basic install, loading on only the HotSync, Palm Desktop, and SoundStage LE software. As expected, initiating the HotSync was as easy as pushing the button on the USB cradle, and the synchronization was fast and accurate.
The SoundStage LE software is included so that users may organize their music collections and transfer tracks to a Memory Stick inserted in the Clie. I found the interface rather cluttered, and the software indicated that there were no compatible devices attached. Rather than spending hours troubleshooting the problem, I simply used the HotSync Manager to transfer MP3 files to the Clie's Memory Stick, much in the same way one would install a Palm application. This worked smoothly, although the transfer took far more time than a 12 Mbps USB connection should take.
Clie Applications
The standard contact, calendar, to-do, and memo applications appear to function much as other Palm-based handhelds and thus don't merit much attention. The built-in MP3 player and graphic applications, on the other hand, are worth mentioning briefly.
AudioPlayer
The MP3 files that had been uploaded via the HotSync manager appeared immediately after launching the included AudioPlayer application. The interface is clean and well-designed, although the somewhat blocky and jagged interface widgets stand in stark contrast to the sharp input area below. Clearly, the AudioPlayer app hasn't yet been fully updated to take advantage of the high-resolution screen. There are three visualization modes, which of course serve little purpose other than to elicit "Wow, cool!" reactions from onlookers. The sound quality through the included earbud headphones was clear with good dynamic range, and the wired remote control between the Clie and the earphones provided convenient operation of the AudioPlayer while the NR70 is folded and placed in a pocket, purse, or backpack. Closing the lid automatically shuts off the LCD screen in order to conserve battery power and also prevents unwanted accidental key presses from interrupting the music. Turning on the "Hold" button will achieve the same effect even when the Clie is open and unfolded.
Sony Clie AudioPlayer
The inability to listen to music while reading email or composing memos was the only bone I had to pick with AudioPlayer. Perhaps there is a solution that enables this type of multitasking, but I couldn't seem to figure out how. While again this is most likely a problem inherent in the underlying Palm OS, it would be nice if this limitation were lifted in a future software update.
The biggest surprise came when I accidentally removed the remote control and earphones while a track was still playing. While Blink182 tracks may not be the best way to judge audio speaker quality, I was nonetheless impressed with the sound coming out of the tiny opening in the back of the 3/8"-thick bottom half of the NR70. Given how thin the enclosure is, getting audio quality akin to decent AM radio is nothing to shake a stick at. So provided you don't need very high audio volume, load up your NR70 with tunes and leave your boom box behind the next time you head out to the beach or a BBQ.
CLIE Paint, PG Pocket, PhotoStand, and gMovie
The Clie Paint application, while no Photoshop, is a handy tool for creating simple sketches and doodles as well as for editing/annotating photos that have been HotSync'ed into the NR70. The PG Pocket and PhotoStand applications appear to be mainly for use with the digital camera built into the NR70's cousin, the NR70V, so these applications were looked at only perfunctorily. (The NR70V was not yet available for review at the time this article was prepared.) Both applications seem well developed and useful for organizing and displaying digital photos. Sony's gMovie is, predictably, a movie viewing application for video files transferred to the Clie's Memory Stick. This application couldn't be tested in time for this review, so perhaps one of our readers will provide feedback on this application by using the Comments link at the bottom of this article.
Final Thoughts
Sony's latest entry into the handheld market offers radical innovations and raises the bar for both Palm and Handspring. The NR70's folding design, integrated keyboard, and Software Graffiti input area combine to form the most significant advancement in handheld engineering since Apple gave birth to the PDA market many years ago. Add wireless connectivity via the Memory Stick expansion slot, and you may soon find your notebook, MP3 player, and digital camera collecting dust in the corner. Posted by Sparky at May 08, 2002 12:29 AM
The fundamental problem is that Content companies want more control over how we use their products. They are not currently allowed to dictate to us how we use their product, short of using things like the DMCA to force limitations on manufacturers(e.g. region coding).
It's one part this and one part that.
They need to aggressively enforce their copyrights to protect their content. A simple search on Google is frequently capable of turning up multiple violations. I don't understand why they don't have enforcement teams on the payroll that work in conjunction with lawyers and the local law enforcement to use copyright law to prosecute. Sure, it will give you a bad image with consumers, but people may actually become scared enough to start obeying copyright law. They may also start lobbying to get laws changed, but hey. The problem is not protection of their content, that's impossible as Bruce Schneier likes to tell us, since every protection scheme can be broken, but of enforcement.
What I don't understand is, if these companies are so dead set on not allowing deep linking, why they don't just use Referer Headers to block the links. I'm sure it would hammer their servers, but they could set it up such that anything that doesn't come from their website is automatically forbidden.
I think they would lose a lot of business this way, but it would be a lot more legal and significantly less shaky then attempting to challenge people's right's to link to articles.
That's the horrific part of the DMCA. Technically they can use it to enforce *any* protection method. Hell I remember some company was trying to enforce a ROT13 "encryption" on their product because someone "circumvented" it.
Sadly, it is only 4:3. Made me want to return it almost immediately. I attempted to find a spot on Rhino Records site to complain. I don't get why companies would release something in a obvious pan and scan format. I still haven't been able to relive that movie because it was only out in theater once...
They can certainly attempt to say that you were attempting to destroy evidence. On the other hand you can say that you have simply finished a migration to OSS software. Involve lawyers and threaten counter lawsuits. As there is no proof of copyright violation when they show up you can countersue for spurious lawsuits. Now if you suddenly go back to non-OSS, then you're screwed. If you want to make a migration, do so and stick with it.
I find it increasingly frustrating that law suits are being used to bully citizens into conforming with corporate expectations.
"You wrote a bad review of my product online? Have a law suit."
Problem is that defending yourself is often costly, making people much more willing to settle and/or comply.
The BSA is a wonderful example. A single case of unlicensed software is not equal to a widespread conspiracy to pirate software. It would be interesting if someone took the BSA to court for their tactics, especially if they tried to use the RICO laws, which seem the most applicable. Comply or we make your life miserable, threaten you financially, all of which can be avoided by paying this one small fee... A legal precedent simplfying the ability to document software and licenses would be nice.
For example. At work we run everything on Windows 2000, because it's what the boss wants. However we have several different sources of licenses, from machines that came with Windows 2000 pre-installed, to machines that originally had DOS/95/98/NT, and purchased software, and direct licenses. We could probably fend off the audit, mostly because we're a small company. It would be nice if we could run their audit tool, so that they know we have all the various software on the machines accounted for, and compare it to a list of licensed software, and software purchases. Sadly I have heard that they often will not accept any particular license for a computer, but want the one that was specifically sold with it, which is both an administrative nightmare and bullshit.
The other one that gets me is the seizure of property. Where do they have the legal right to do that? They don't... They can get me for copyright violation, but the machine isn't their property, and unless they're going to compensate me for it, and all the other software on it that's legal.
The whole thing burns me because it seems like the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" has been turned on it's head. Now the defenders are often at a significant disadvantage in our legal system and it can even be used to put them out of business even if they win (see Creative and Aureal).
I would humbly suggest that readers in that area volunteer to help get books in order for the audit. And or help to switch over systems to Linux away from Microsoft.
Help the schools out with a little bit of your time and expertise.
The hidden camera thing is pretty obvious. It also seems like it fills a loophole in the laws. Well at least according to my knowledge of the law via "The Practice" and "Law and Order".
The limiting of Porn sites to.prn makes a lot of sense and I would guess is likely to be upheld as legal. They're still allowed to speak, but are given a specific domain name ending. It also allows Congress to put through filtering laws without infringing on free speech. It also stops filtering companies from being able to stop access to legitimate traffic to "questionable" content. Mind you this might not work at all given that US law typically does not apply well outside the US. Who knows maybe all the porn operators will simply move overseas.
The prior art and other patents listed are actually interesting. One is for an original swing, and another is for an indoor swing. Both have relatively lengthy prior art sections as well. Interesting reading.
I think where the patent office went wrong was that they started allowing concepts to be patented. Inventions or processes are fine as there is a defineable method you go through to get a result. A specific engine, chemical process, etc. But allowing patents for a one-click shopping system? For swinging in a circle? How can they sign off on these things?
Go figure. Well despite being a poorly documented academic, his stuff tends to read like creationist babble and tends to frequently single source for theories that support his ideas, he's doing a pretty good job of pursuing his theories and attempting to make the traditional scientific community (archaeological) reconsider their current theories. If nothing else his books put together various theories in a way that make you think. He's been pretty obsessed about Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings by Charles Hapsburg.
I'm impressed, he may eventually get past crack pot status.
As a gamer I've been waiting for good LCDs because they're much easier to carry to a LAN party then my 19" monitor.
I've just found the 18.1" NEC 1850x which supposedly has a refresh rate of 15ms from black to white and white to black, but am uncertain if this is "real" anyone seen any reviews? From what I've read this would make a good gaming LCD monitor. Though I must say the $1300 pricetag is a kick in the wallet.
Anyone found any new technology that will make us wish for something other then LCDs? I've seen all the articles about the different process technology for LCDs, but nothing exciting.
Anyone seen DLP flatscreen monitors? DLP seems to do everything you want, they make kick ass tvs.
Slashdot Mirror
I enjoy the fact that Farscape is relatively true to life. It constantly evolves, the same character's continue to be important, but new characters enter and old ones leave. I mean really do you still have all the same friends you had in high school? In college? Time changes everything and while they may still have importance to you, you don't always see them, or even think about them as much.
The ever changing landscape of characters is extremely interesting. Some are annoying, some are cool, and all of them add new elements and depth to the plot.
Overall I find it superior to the shows that are only episodic and always have the same characters with no chance that they'll die or evolve. Data from ST:TNG is a perfect example. I can't think of how many different shows they had him learn emotions or different elements of being human only to have him revert back to emotionless android the next time.
Farscape's risk taking with new characters and plot is to be commended. It resembles life better, though I will admit that their occasional flights of fancy and wierdness both delight and scare (the cartoon episode).
Overall it's a wonderful show that makes for some damn good entertainment.
Are what's going to kill you. Having to support software and software interoperability between different platforms can be a serious pain. A mono-culture is easier when dealing with software. However if you are presented with a significant enough savings from another platform, consider it.
Your admins, if they're any good, should be able to adapt to a different UNIX easily. Yes there are differences, but not ones that should trouble an experienced admin any longer then it takes him to read a couple man pages.
I would be appreciative if you could provide even a book or two as a starting point.
Hell the "special effects" from the first three (IV, V and VI) are much better then the tripe that he's churning out now. Models make a much more real and gritty world, then the shiny silver spaceships he's using now. You don't suffer from the it's too clean to be in the picture obnoxious effect that CGI tends to have. That and models (the Rancor) tend to move correctly or at least better then computer models.
I am actually trying to figure out how to reverse this process and re-uuencode all of my emails so that I can port them to a different system and not lose the attachments. Have you run into anything that can do this?
It's amazing how as more and more police powers are being granted that the whole innocent until proven guilty thing is going out the window.
These days they collect information on bad tips, and hunches. The lack of oversight is appalling. I do admit that some of the laws where overly tight. The whole must get a warrant for each device for tapping is a bit extreme, even as a privacy advocate. What I don't like are the fishing expeditions that they're engaging in now. Especially they're imply threats against those who don't cooperate. The whole "your unamerican and not patriotic" if you don't wholly bend over and take it from law enforcement is a bit much.
Speeding for me is a great example. Arbitrarily enforced and most often broken by officers without need (no lights or sirens). It seems that many officers take their badge as a right to be outside the law. TV shows and movies make police look bad, but when some of the real stories come out... it's usually so much worse then the fiction that you wonder why we ever wanted to trust these people.
I will also be the first to admit that law enforcement is a thankless task. I do appreciate those individuals that are honestly serving.
You just can't win.
I actually uninstalled the most recent version of Quicken. Up until this last year they had my business as I would purchase a copy of Quicken Deluxe with Turbotax Deluxe so I could do my taxes. I was burned on the fact that I *had* to register for a Quicken.com account so that I could download stockquotes etc, to keep my 401(k) and investments up to date, despite the fact that I didn't need to in the previous years version. I sent a couple bitchy emails to Quicken, but am certain that I got ignored. I'm tempted to backtrack to Quicken 98 or 99 because that was before they integrated IE, which does seem to have slowed it does seriously.
http://www.matrox.com/mga/start/newsletter/may_200 2/parhelia512.cfm
The Tech Report with their in depth preview http://www.tech-report.com/etc/2002q2/parhelia/ind ex.x?pg=1
I'm sure there's a typo. ;)
You head may not be food, but as far as a microwave is concerned... if you put your head in one, it would cook just like food. It's that whole contains water thing.
I've been wondering about this for a while. Why is that people seem to be so unconcerned about frequencies that operate in their microwave to cook food, but are perfectly willing to put handsets that operate at similar frequencies right next to their head, or laptops that use Wi-Fi in their laps? I know it is based off of different power outputs, but still some of these we use for hours at a time. It hardly seems safe.
Now lights with a potential solution being offered of going up to the 5 GHz spectrum for communication devices.
Amateur radio operators I plead with you (since I am one, but am not active enough to remember some of this stuff) to provide info on use of various handsets at high frequencies next to your head.
Not really, as that's a combination phone/pda.
It all depends on what your looking for... and admitedly what I'm talking about are PDAs only.
Marketing has a lot to do with it as well and what you can buy easily. I've seen Sony, Handspring, and Palm in different stores. I don't think I've ever seen a Handera device. I'm discounting the combo phone/pda's because they aren't what I consider a good technology mix. (right now at least)
It surprises me a little that all these companies are coming out with these designs so late in the term of the support of the current processor. Given the move to ARM architecture you would think they would want to wait a little bit.
However feature-wise it is starting to integrate in the right direction. The onscreen text-area makes so much sense it surprises me that more people haven't done it (yes Handera, but they aren't as mainstream as Palm, Sony, and Handspring). The larger amounts of RAM for both the flash and for apps and storage make these much more attractive then the other makers.
If only Sony's support for these wasn't so shoddy they are pretty clearly offering one of the technologically best Palm platforms right now. If I hadn't just bought a different one I would be buying one of these.
Given how long most of these sites seem to hold up to a /.ing.. Here's the text.
AsiaGadgets
May 08, 2002
Review: Sony Clie PEG-NR70 Handheld
Sony Clie NR70 HandheldSony's latest Clie is a radical and welcome departure from the traditional design of the handheld PDA. Introducing innovations that have never been seen before on a Palm OS based device, the Clie PEG-NR70 and its digital camera bearing cousin NR70V have generated a flurry of excitement among PDA aficionados. This hands-on review takes a first look at what all the buzz is about.
Unique Form Factor
The most easily recognized innovation is the folding "clam shell" form factor. This design choice parallels the progression of mobile phone design in Japan, where ever-larger color LCD screens left little room for number keys that human fingers could comfortably press. In the pursuit of more surface real estate, Japanese mobile phone manufacturers decided to risk the stigma associated with flip phone designs -- a stigma largely caused by Motorola's unattractive and dated models -- by splitting the phone into two halves: an LCD screen on the upper half and a keypad on the lower half. These two halves are thin enough that folding the phone results in a thickness that is still thinner than most mobile phones sold in Europe and the U.S.
PDAs have always had large screens, so when Sony decided to add a keyboard, there was no choice but to follow a similar design philosophy. The NR70 has two very thin folding halves, with an LCD screen and keyboard on the upper and lower halves, respectively. The thickness of this Clie, when closed, feels about the same as a Palm III. But the real innovation is the ability to swivel the screen 180 degrees and fold it over the other half, morphing the device into the handheld form factor that most people are accustomed to using with a stylus. These two modes can be thought of as "keyboard input mode" and "stylus input mode."
Larger Screen Swivels 180 Degrees
The color LCD screen, like those found on previous iterations of the Clie, is a joy to look at. The high resolution screen is bright, text and graphics are sharp, and the 65,536 colors are as vibrant as one can expect from a handheld. But that's not why so many people are excited about the NR70.
Another major innovation Sony introduced for this model, the 320-by-480 pixel 16-bit color screen, is perhaps the most significant. For years, Palm devices have been plagued by an immutable silk-screened input area that occupies valuable screen real estate, while competing devices feature larger displays with less wasted space. Sony's new Clie is the first Palm-based handheld to nix the permanent silk-screened input area in favor of a software-based area displayed at the bottom of the new, larger LCD screen.
You might think that the apps on the NR70 would be lining up to take advantage of this newly liberated screen real estate. Unfortunately, you would be wrong. It appears that there is only a single application, the built-in image viewer, that can temporarily hide the input area and use the entire screen. Although it would be great to be able to use the entire vertical screen length to view calendars, memos, e-books, and other application data, this is not yet possible on this Clie, mostly likely due to limitations inherent in version 4.1 of the Palm OS. While there are no guarantees, hopefully a subsequent update to the underlying software will enable more applications to utilize the entire screen.
Integrated Keyboard
The QWERTY-style keyboard is a boon even to those who have become proficient at stylus entry via the Graffiti input system. Much like the RIM Blackberry communications device, the keyboard on the NR70 is most easily used with two thumbs. Using just these two digits, text input via the keyboard was surprisingly easy and quick. Despite years of experience with Graffiti input, I soon preferred text entry via the keyboard to pecking away at the screen with the stylus.
Sony Clie NR70 KeyboardThe keyboard has four modifier keys on the left side: Shift, Control, Function, and Alt. The Function key is used to enter numbers, which are located along the top row of the alphabet letter keys. Entering numbers this way was a bit cumbersome but not as difficult as one might expect. Symbols, on the other hand, are scattered among the remaining letter keys and can be difficult to locate quickly. Thankfully, common punctuation characters such as the comma and period have their own keys.
I did find one significant annoyance, however, when using the keyboard to enter contact data. Sony/Palm made it too difficult to use the keyboard to move from one field to another. The tab key would seem like the most intuitive method, but this simply inserts a tab character into the field. (Somebody please explain to me the purpose of entering tabs into contact fields. Good reasons for doing this are completely eluding me.) Not being the type to read instruction manuals, I unsuccessfully tried every possible combination of modifier keys along with the arrow keys, return key, and even the jog dial. I had to put down the Clie and vent my frustrations via an hour of indescriminate bedlam before I was able to clear my mind, pick the NR70 back up, and discover that control-tab and shift-control-tab are the magic ingredients. However, hitting control-tab with just the left thumb requires too much hand contorting, and using two thumbs is even harder due to the size and placement of these keys. Eventually I decided that the best solution was to simply use my left index fingernail to manually place the cursor in the next field. If the developers out there are listening, I strongly urge them to at least allow for a "Tab key moves between fields" preference somewhere in a subsequent update to the software.
Other buttons on the Clie include Sony's signature Jog Dial that is used to scroll up and down, as well as to select the current item by pushing in the Jog. Also on the left side of the bottom half of the device is the Back button, which is used when the user wishes to cancel a Jog Dial operation. Rounding out the buttons on the left side is the Hold button, which seems to have little use other than in conjunction with the Audio Player application.
Faster Processor
The Clie NR70 is the first Palm OS device to sport the new 66MHz Motorola Dragonball Super VZ. Twice as fast as other handhelds powered by the Palm OS, this processor made the NR70 feel much snappier than competing Palm and Handspring devices. While not as fast as processors found in other handheld platform designs, this CPU allows the NR70 to perform responsively while yielding longer battery life than handhelds with faster processors.
Software Graffiti
Software Graffiti Input AreaSeveral welcome enhancements have been introduced to the no-longer-static input area, although it is unclear whether these improvements were made by Sony, Palm, or collaboration between the two companies. The most notable enhancement is visual feedback when using the stylus to draw on the input area. A square dot appears when the stylus is first placed on one of the two input boxes, and a thin line follows the movement of the stylus until it is lifted from the screen. This helps visualize what is being entered in the input area and reduces errant stylus strokes.
Other handy aspects of the new input area include a clock in the lower right-hand corner, an LCD brightness control, battery power indicator, and an icon that appears when a Memory Stick has been inserted. There is also a button which brings up an on-screen keyboard inside the input area that is much more space efficient than having a separate window appear above the input area.
Synchronization
Initial attempts to HotSync the NR70 via the USB cradle with an Apple iBook running OS X 10.1.3 and Palm's recently released Palm Desktop 4.0 software produced a "serial port is currently in use" error, despite reports of successful HotSyncs between this configuration and previous Clie models. This error was particularly interesting since serial ports have not been featured on Macs for many years. Hopefully either Palm, Sony, or third parties such as MarkSpace will provide a solution to this problem.
Luckily, a spare Vaio running Win2k/J was handy to test the synchronization capabilities of the new Clie. The included installer CD for Win32 platforms provided an easy-to-follow bevy of installation options. I opted for a basic install, loading on only the HotSync, Palm Desktop, and SoundStage LE software. As expected, initiating the HotSync was as easy as pushing the button on the USB cradle, and the synchronization was fast and accurate.
The SoundStage LE software is included so that users may organize their music collections and transfer tracks to a Memory Stick inserted in the Clie. I found the interface rather cluttered, and the software indicated that there were no compatible devices attached. Rather than spending hours troubleshooting the problem, I simply used the HotSync Manager to transfer MP3 files to the Clie's Memory Stick, much in the same way one would install a Palm application. This worked smoothly, although the transfer took far more time than a 12 Mbps USB connection should take.
Clie Applications
The standard contact, calendar, to-do, and memo applications appear to function much as other Palm-based handhelds and thus don't merit much attention. The built-in MP3 player and graphic applications, on the other hand, are worth mentioning briefly.
AudioPlayer
The MP3 files that had been uploaded via the HotSync manager appeared immediately after launching the included AudioPlayer application. The interface is clean and well-designed, although the somewhat blocky and jagged interface widgets stand in stark contrast to the sharp input area below. Clearly, the AudioPlayer app hasn't yet been fully updated to take advantage of the high-resolution screen. There are three visualization modes, which of course serve little purpose other than to elicit "Wow, cool!" reactions from onlookers. The sound quality through the included earbud headphones was clear with good dynamic range, and the wired remote control between the Clie and the earphones provided convenient operation of the AudioPlayer while the NR70 is folded and placed in a pocket, purse, or backpack. Closing the lid automatically shuts off the LCD screen in order to conserve battery power and also prevents unwanted accidental key presses from interrupting the music. Turning on the "Hold" button will achieve the same effect even when the Clie is open and unfolded.
Sony Clie AudioPlayer
The inability to listen to music while reading email or composing memos was the only bone I had to pick with AudioPlayer. Perhaps there is a solution that enables this type of multitasking, but I couldn't seem to figure out how. While again this is most likely a problem inherent in the underlying Palm OS, it would be nice if this limitation were lifted in a future software update.
The biggest surprise came when I accidentally removed the remote control and earphones while a track was still playing. While Blink182 tracks may not be the best way to judge audio speaker quality, I was nonetheless impressed with the sound coming out of the tiny opening in the back of the 3/8"-thick bottom half of the NR70. Given how thin the enclosure is, getting audio quality akin to decent AM radio is nothing to shake a stick at. So provided you don't need very high audio volume, load up your NR70 with tunes and leave your boom box behind the next time you head out to the beach or a BBQ.
CLIE Paint, PG Pocket, PhotoStand, and gMovie
The Clie Paint application, while no Photoshop, is a handy tool for creating simple sketches and doodles as well as for editing/annotating photos that have been HotSync'ed into the NR70. The PG Pocket and PhotoStand applications appear to be mainly for use with the digital camera built into the NR70's cousin, the NR70V, so these applications were looked at only perfunctorily. (The NR70V was not yet available for review at the time this article was prepared.) Both applications seem well developed and useful for organizing and displaying digital photos. Sony's gMovie is, predictably, a movie viewing application for video files transferred to the Clie's Memory Stick. This application couldn't be tested in time for this review, so perhaps one of our readers will provide feedback on this application by using the Comments link at the bottom of this article.
Final Thoughts
Sony's latest entry into the handheld market offers radical innovations and raises the bar for both Palm and Handspring. The NR70's folding design, integrated keyboard, and Software Graffiti input area combine to form the most significant advancement in handheld engineering since Apple gave birth to the PDA market many years ago. Add wireless connectivity via the Memory Stick expansion slot, and you may soon find your notebook, MP3 player, and digital camera collecting dust in the corner.
Posted by Sparky at May 08, 2002 12:29 AM
The fundamental problem is that Content companies want more control over how we use their products. They are not currently allowed to dictate to us how we use their product, short of using things like the DMCA to force limitations on manufacturers(e.g. region coding).
It's one part this and one part that.
They need to aggressively enforce their copyrights to protect their content. A simple search on Google is frequently capable of turning up multiple violations. I don't understand why they don't have enforcement teams on the payroll that work in conjunction with lawyers and the local law enforcement to use copyright law to prosecute. Sure, it will give you a bad image with consumers, but people may actually become scared enough to start obeying copyright law. They may also start lobbying to get laws changed, but hey. The problem is not protection of their content, that's impossible as Bruce Schneier likes to tell us, since every protection scheme can be broken, but of enforcement.
Read my lips, no new laws.
What I don't understand is, if these companies are so dead set on not allowing deep linking, why they don't just use Referer Headers to block the links. I'm sure it would hammer their servers, but they could set it up such that anything that doesn't come from their website is automatically forbidden.
I think they would lose a lot of business this way, but it would be a lot more legal and significantly less shaky then attempting to challenge people's right's to link to articles.
That's the horrific part of the DMCA. Technically they can use it to enforce *any* protection method. Hell I remember some company was trying to enforce a ROT13 "encryption" on their product because someone "circumvented" it.
Sadly, it is only 4:3. Made me want to return it almost immediately. I attempted to find a spot on Rhino Records site to complain. I don't get why companies would release something in a obvious pan and scan format. I still haven't been able to relive that movie because it was only out in theater once...
They can certainly attempt to say that you were attempting to destroy evidence. On the other hand you can say that you have simply finished a migration to OSS software. Involve lawyers and threaten counter lawsuits. As there is no proof of copyright violation when they show up you can countersue for spurious lawsuits. Now if you suddenly go back to non-OSS, then you're screwed. If you want to make a migration, do so and stick with it.
I find it increasingly frustrating that law suits are being used to bully citizens into conforming with corporate expectations.
"You wrote a bad review of my product online? Have a law suit."
Problem is that defending yourself is often costly, making people much more willing to settle and/or comply.
The BSA is a wonderful example. A single case of unlicensed software is not equal to a widespread conspiracy to pirate software. It would be interesting if someone took the BSA to court for their tactics, especially if they tried to use the RICO laws, which seem the most applicable. Comply or we make your life miserable, threaten you financially, all of which can be avoided by paying this one small fee... A legal precedent simplfying the ability to document software and licenses would be nice.
For example. At work we run everything on Windows 2000, because it's what the boss wants. However we have several different sources of licenses, from machines that came with Windows 2000 pre-installed, to machines that originally had DOS/95/98/NT, and purchased software, and direct licenses. We could probably fend off the audit, mostly because we're a small company. It would be nice if we could run their audit tool, so that they know we have all the various software on the machines accounted for, and compare it to a list of licensed software, and software purchases. Sadly I have heard that they often will not accept any particular license for a computer, but want the one that was specifically sold with it, which is both an administrative nightmare and bullshit.
The other one that gets me is the seizure of property. Where do they have the legal right to do that? They don't... They can get me for copyright violation, but the machine isn't their property, and unless they're going to compensate me for it, and all the other software on it that's legal.
The whole thing burns me because it seems like the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" has been turned on it's head. Now the defenders are often at a significant disadvantage in our legal system and it can even be used to put them out of business even if they win (see Creative and Aureal).
I would humbly suggest that readers in that area volunteer to help get books in order for the audit. And or help to switch over systems to Linux away from Microsoft.
Help the schools out with a little bit of your time and expertise.
The hidden camera thing is pretty obvious. It also seems like it fills a loophole in the laws. Well at least according to my knowledge of the law via "The Practice" and "Law and Order".
.prn makes a lot of sense and I would guess is likely to be upheld as legal. They're still allowed to speak, but are given a specific domain name ending. It also allows Congress to put through filtering laws without infringing on free speech. It also stops filtering companies from being able to stop access to legitimate traffic to "questionable" content. Mind you this might not work at all given that US law typically does not apply well outside the US. Who knows maybe all the porn operators will simply move overseas.
The limiting of Porn sites to
The prior art and other patents listed are actually interesting. One is for an original swing, and another is for an indoor swing. Both have relatively lengthy prior art sections as well. Interesting reading.
I think where the patent office went wrong was that they started allowing concepts to be patented. Inventions or processes are fine as there is a defineable method you go through to get a result. A specific engine, chemical process, etc. But allowing patents for a one-click shopping system? For swinging in a circle? How can they sign off on these things?
Go figure. Well despite being a poorly documented academic, his stuff tends to read like creationist babble and tends to frequently single source for theories that support his ideas, he's doing a pretty good job of pursuing his theories and attempting to make the traditional scientific community (archaeological) reconsider their current theories. If nothing else his books put together various theories in a way that make you think. He's been pretty obsessed about Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings by Charles Hapsburg.
I'm impressed, he may eventually get past crack pot status.
I've just found the 18.1" NEC 1850x which supposedly has a refresh rate of 15ms from black to white and white to black, but am uncertain if this is "real" anyone seen any reviews? From what I've read this would make a good gaming LCD monitor. Though I must say the $1300 pricetag is a kick in the wallet.
Anyone found any new technology that will make us wish for something other then LCDs? I've seen all the articles about the different process technology for LCDs, but nothing exciting.
Anyone seen DLP flatscreen monitors? DLP seems to do everything you want, they make kick ass tvs.