News archive - June 16-30 2001

REX 6000 Help Page News Archive

June 16 - 30, 2001

June 29, 2001

REX community extends to Asia DataSlim2 users as well! (From Shawn.)

Not too long ago, the only REX add-ins were ones translated by Japanse DataSlim2 (DS2) developers like Mr. Idogawa, Mr. Morotomi, and Frogger. The first steps in REX add-in development were enabled by information and code from the DS2 developers. Now it appears that we are "repaying" our debt to the DS2 community.

"I was just looking around and started looking at some of the Japanese Dataslim web pages - guess what I found? On the Citizen Board, it looks like Mr Idogawa announced the release of the Rex SDK on Myles' site. Then on several other sites I found links to download Rex add-ins to the DS2. They are using Solirex, Othello, Tennis, Guitar chords, and Dwarf Gold on the Dataslim. I'm not sure what kinds of bugs they are encountering, but isn't it great that the add-ins are now going the other direction? Maybe someone with a Dataslim could post and let us know how the Rex add-ins operate. Just Curious. I saw a comment about how large and active the Rex community is compared to the dataslim community on one of the boards and thought that was pretty cool too. What do you think?"

Thanks to all our add-in and REX program developers for their creative and cool programs. And, thanks to all the REX users who have shared their information, insights, and humor! Group hug. <g>

Update to Rexpense add-in beta!! (From Bertus)

"Just uploaded version 0.6 of Rexpense. Improvements:

- cleaner interface (no more tapping "modify" to create or delete a record, but seperate buttons)
- several cosmetic improvements
- added some statistics (total sum, average, maximum-minimum)
- fixed some bugs

Due to space limitations of an addin (8Kb) I can't seem to add anything else to it... In fact there's not even room left to add a string for a decent message inside the stats dialog...

So apart from some bugfixes this is about as good as it gets I guess.

If you like it, or if you don't, it's nice for me to receive feedback. Comments are both useful and to let me know that someone is actually using my work. For my first two addins (Tennis and Guitarchord) I got 3 emails for about 500 downloads; that's not a very inspiring number of reactions to keep a freeware author working on new stuff. :) Have fun."

Rexpense, along with the Tennis (Pong clone) and Guitar Chords add-ins can be found at http://www.geocities.com/bertusrex6k/rex.html.

Add-in developers need your help - comments, suggestions, praise!

If you are one of the hundreds of persons who have downloaded and used an add-in released by our dedicated and creative add-in developer community, time to put some skin in the game! Please take a moment and drop the author a note directly, or via REX Rumor Central, letting the author know what you like, don't like, would like, and any other comments.

These folks are doing this for fun and for your benefit - take a moment from your day to let them know how they're doing!

June 28, 2001

Expense Tracker add-in Beta released! (From Bertus)

"I added a (pre-beta) expense tracker addin to my webpage. Before you get your hopes up too high: It's a VERY basic expense tracker. It has the ability to record expenses. Period. This addin is adapted from the Dataslim2 addin "Expense" from the Dataslim2 SDK, I modified it to run on the Rex 6000.

Let me name some things it doesn't do:

- it doesn't do totals.
- it doesn't do 'cents', just 'integer' prices
- it doesn't sync or export or import to a PC easily.
- it doesn't look too cool
- it doesn't categorise
- it doesn't do custom sorting

Heck, give it a try anyway at: http://www.geocities.com/bertusrex6k/rex.html. Have fun, Bertus"

Batteries are in the REX of the beholder. (From Arhi)

Some time ago Amiram suggested that one could put CR2025 (REX 5000 batteries) in a REX 6000 for longer battery life. Problem is, the REX 6000 was designed to use the thinner CR2016 batteries. Arhi decided to give it a whirl - here's how it's been for him so far:

"A month ago, I installed new batteries to my Rex6000. As I just read about larger batteries from your homepage, type 25, I decied to try them out by myself too. The PDA works fine, thought it is a bit larger because of the batteries. Also, I noticed that with these new batteries, there appeared few scratches right behind the batteries on my rex. Also, if I dock the rex, it is a bit tighter than before.

If the money is not a problem with these batteries, and you would like to see your rex always like a new one, I suggest to use old 16 size batteries. But then again - the technology goes on, how long should the rex6000 work? 10 years? 100 years? from this point of view, bigger batteries are better :-)"

June 27, 2001

REX back on sale at RCSeshop and eCost.

"I found the REX 6000 for sale for $99.99 at RCSeshop." (Maury)

"Rex 6000 (serial) is available for $89.95 at eCost." (Amiram)

New add-in released - GolfCard beta, a score keeping utility! (From Dave)

Truly an excellent use for a REX - keeping your golf score!

"It is at http://www.geocities.com/irish_iiiii/. I have a *.zip file, which includes the source code and some wonderful ravings from me (the only price associated with the product). I also included just the *.rex file for those who can figure out how it works by themselves.

I you want, post comments on either the list server or REX Rumor Central and I'll see what I can do to include ideas. Just remember, it took me this long just to find out how what I did worked, and I still have to write the save functionality."

The "list server" Dave refers to is the REX Developers mailing list - see our Internet Resources page for information on joining if you are interested in developing for the REX. If you just have user comments, post them at REX Rumor Central.

June 26, 2001

REX in Australia via auction sites. (From Chris.)

"I had success buying my (new) Rex 6000 from the auction site http://www.sold.com.au I paid $A244 including delivery. There are quite a few being offered on this site every day. Good Luck!"

REX takes a lickin' (rain, actually) and keeps on tickin'. (From Reinhold.)

"When I entered my house the other day, I accidently dropped the REX and didn't realize it. It was pouring rain the whole night through. When I looked out of my window around midday, I saw something like a little black box on the floor in my garden. When I went out to see what it was (still raining !) I found my REX, in its open leather case, covered with water. It had been laying there for about 14 hours and whas exposed to the rain. After I tried to clean it with a paper towel I switched it on and: it worked completely normal - the touchscreen, the buttons, everything all right !!! I don?t think this would have worked with my last Palm Pilot :-)"

Hopefully this will stay a happy story in the long-term as circuits dry completely . . .

June 25, 2001

Add-ins are popping up like crazy . . .

"I've released v1.0 of the Tennis add-in. You can find it, together with another addin an descriptions at http://www.geocities.com/bertusrex6k/rex.html." (From Bertus)

"GuitarChords (on the site above) is a small reference program that shows how to position the fingers to make a certain guitar chord. It contains 15 chords, which should be enough to get a beginner started."

"New Addin: Othello A new addin created with the C sdk can be downloaded from http://www.mirix.net Enjoy." (From Myles)

"I hacked out a little game called "Dwarf Gold" last night, which is available (with source) at http://home.pacbell.net/p_c_b/index.html. Its a "hunt the wumpus" derivative, but its not quite done yet. Its playable, just doesn't have all the features I want in it yet. However, I won't be able to do much programming this weekend, and wanted to get something out soon, so... The code is based on Myles' sdk stuff (many lines in dg.c should look the same!). Good work Myles!" (From Paul)

"A new version of SoliRex is available at: http://www22.brinkster.com/Rex6000/SoliRex.ASP (Note that this is a new link). SoliRex is a single Rex 6000 add-in containing a suit of several well-known Solitaire games. The new version has some enhancements and fixes over the Beta version." (From Amiram)

Note that Amiram requires folks wanting to download Solirex to answer a few survey questions. He has promised to post the results of the survey at a later date.