Updated cMemo released - supports categories! (From Chris)
"I've posted cMemo
version 0.3, which now supports Rex categories, paging up/down by touching
anywhere in the memo text area, a memo scrollbar, and PIN entry for locked
memos. (See the readme.txt for details.)
BUT, to squeeze these features in, I decided to temporarily
disable the memo search feature. I intend this to be my last "single-addin"
version of cMemo; I plan to next make it a "double-addin" to add
support for multi-memo books, and put the search feature back in (also supporting
searches of multi-memo books).
NOTE: the first time you run it, cMemo 0.3 flashes a short
patch to your Rex firmware to gain access to the Rex category menu code.
This is "painless" and nothing to worry about, but is one more
reason cMemo will not run on
a DS/2, and SHOULD NOT BE RUN on a DS/2. Sorry, DS/2 users!
Thank you very much, Rex users, for the kind words and
suggestions!"
More Birthday updates to come. (From Nic)
Arjan's Birthday add-in continues to generate interest
in the developer and user communities. Looks like another update is coming
from Nic in the near future . . .
" I am working on adding age as well as anniversaries.
I need to fix my code a bit and add the use of pointers. Version 2 will
have the ability to do age as well as anniversaries. Give me a week :)
I'm a full time student (20 units), and work full time as a software engineer
as well."
Update syncing with Outlook corporate workgroup version.
(From Steve)
Steve was having difficulty - Intellisync was unable to
find/read his outlook.pst file:
"I have not been able to synchronize my Rex6000
with Outlook 2000 (workgroup version) on a WinNT 4.0 machine. I found
three items on your web site that I was sure would fix my problems: the
WinNT installation procedure, "Intellisync
can't find my Outlook.pst file (by Eric)", and finally "installing
with Outlook corporate/workgroup version.
My one remaining problem has been resolved, and it turned
out to be a simple one. I always kept Outlook open when I tried to perform
the Intellisync Configure or Synchronize. I was told Outlook was locking
the "offline store", and disallowing Intellisync access to the file. The
solution was simply to close/exit Outlook before running Intellisync.
I don't remember reading that requirement anywhere, and it seems logical
but a little unusual.
One additional note: I removed the copy of the "Windows
Messaging System" folder in the registry and Intellisync is still working.
It appears that modifying the registry is not necessary with my computer
setup. I think the one fix that I needed was the one explained in the
"Office XP users working with offline files
may need to tweak a bit (from JJ)". The fix must also be applicable
to computers running WinNT, Office 2000, Corporate/Workgroup."
Battery sources for Sweden and Norway. (From Lars)
"2016 -cells for REX 6000 are sold at a reasonable
price in Norwegian and Swedish Clas Ohlson stores:
http://www.clasohlson.no/
http://www.clasohlson.se/
Varta, 10 pcs price (partno 32-2119) NOK 159,- (US$ 17.65)
/ SEK 135,- (US$ 12.85)
Newsun, strips of 5 pcs (partno 32-2243) NOK 59,- (US$
6.55) / SEK 45,- (US$ 4.30) "Newsun" are cheap, but capacity is
low.
Unfortunately, Clas Ohlson do not ship orders outside the
Nordic countries.
2016 -cells are also available at Biltema:
http://www.biltema.no
partno 38-312 NOK 16,90 (US$ 1.90) each. Make is unknown.
Low capacity (60 mAh)."
Battery source for Canadians. (From Mike)
"In regard to Canadian battery sources, Digikey
delivers to Canada. Their main site, www.digikey.com,
has a Canadian flag icon which if clicked will take you to a mirror site all
in Canadian dollars. Like the American site, there is a waiver on the $6.50
shipping charges once the order exceeds a certain amount -- $32.50 CDN. They're
shipping includes a reasonable flat $8.00 brokerage charge; I've had nasty
surprises on orders from other US companies, where brokerage wasn't provided
(my Rex cost me $50 extra just for the UPS brokerage charges, despite the
fact there was no duty to pay on it, etc).
That's the good news. The bad news is that the bulk order
I placed for 56 batteries at the beginning of November was originally back
ordered with a shipping date of Dec 10. It is now being projected as Dec
31, 2001. Two months is a long time to wait. If someone comes up with a
faster supplier, I'd be willing to pay quite a bit more to get them.
The price on the bulk order is $.67 CDN each. After all
TAX, shipping and handling costs, the total for 56 batteries is $48.52.
So less than $1 a battery."
Further evolution of the Birthday add-in. (From DK)
"Nicolas Young has just released his new version
of the birthdays tracker add-in based on Arjan Meskers' original idea.
The add-in has been enhanced with new cool graphics & layout, scrolling
by page & single line, sorting by date & name (up & down). It has a wonderful
MS Windows like drop-out menu. The minor bugs detected in his earlier
versions have been kindly fixed by Nic in this new release. I tested this
version and it works flawlessly. I am more than grateful. Keep up the
great work, Nic!!! Everybody, enjoy this add-in and report the suggestions
you have to [email protected]!!!"
Download Nic's
version of the Birthday add-in.
There are now three versions of the Birthday add-in available
- see here on our Add-ins page for
a summary of your choices and links to the downloads. If any other versions
out there are missing from the list, let
us know!
New Japanese add-in page w/REX and DS2 add-ins. (From
DK)
"New design, new content, new add-ins from Japanese
developers:
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~qn6o-mrtm/ds2new/index_e.htm
Go to the link, then --> to Add-In Download --> US. There
is a new add-in called "Card Game Memory Ver. 1.0" (dd. 10/26/2001). It's
DS2 & Rex6000 compatible. I tested it on my Rex....no problems at all. It's
an add-in similar to MemoRex by DI listed on your site but it is enhanced
with cooler graphics, time and "miss" indication. The interface is in English,
and the English ReadMe.txt is included.
Another add-in I tried is Multiple Watch Ver. 2.0B3. It's
in the prototype section. As far as I got it, it's still in the beta evaluation
version but it works fine on the Rex. It's an enhanced version of Multiple
Watch Ver. 1.2 & 1.4. It has an improved English interface, watch, stopwatch,
timer, alarm, travel and home time (date) indication. Travel and home time
can be switched. Stopwatch has four lap time indications. It's a neat add-in
and is handy for travellers. Though add-in's alarm feature still does not
work in this version. But internal Rex alarms for events work okey. The
add-in is worth trying.
One more new add-in is QCKREAD by Hikhik (http://users.goo.ne.jp/hikhik/).
But I haven't tested it as
I did not have time and the instructions are in Japanese."
PacMan is loose on the REX! (From Roo)
"PacMan is now available at www.fiendishcat.com/rex.
It's a fairly early (and slow!) version, but playable. Cheers,"
DS2 case order update.
We are complete and money is being transferred and the
order will be placed very shortly. Thanks to all for their patience! As
soon as we have more information on shipping timing, we'll let you know.
Site update.
A new page - REX Battery Vendors - has been added to the
site in the "REX and REX Stuff Vendors" section. The information
on battery vendors that was in the REX FAQ has been moved to the new battery
page to make it easier to find. Links are provided in the FAQ to the battery
page as well.
If anyone has any additional sources for batteries (particularly
outside the US) please let us know!
Another battery source in the UK! (From Andy)
"Just to let you know that I have found a place in
the UK that sells very cheap batteries:
http://www.watchbattery.com/
You have to buy a minimum of 10, and pay postage of £3
- but they only cost £0.42 (Renata) or £0.48 (Rayovac) each
+VAT at 17.5%. I ordered ten Renatas which worked out at an average price
of around £0.80 each. They were delivered quickly too.
Here's
a direct link to the [Renata and Rayovac] CR2016s"
Additional PIM options for the REX 6000? (From Pim)
"The reason why I contact you is that I'm a developper
of phpGroupWare which is an on-line Groupware system and ofcourse personal
information managener. My new mission is to make synchronisation functionality
in phpGW with the rex6000. There are also project for other PDA. Most
importent is the synchronisation of the calender events...When
I start coding I will make it platform independant. So It would work for
Windows/Linux/MacOS X."
If you'd like to talk with Pim about his project, click
on his name above to send an email.
Fix for PCMCIA sync problems (REX not found). (From Preston)
"I've had quite an unpleasant saga with my Rex after
getting it warrantied from Xircom. I could sync with the usb port but not
the pcmcia. I tried all of the recommended tricks on your website. None
of them worked. I reinstalled the drivers and intellisync according Xircom's
directions three times. This is a lot of booting...
A symptom that clearly had something to do with it is that
Windows 98SE thought the modem was missing drivers. This can by seen by
the yellow triangle with an exclamation point next to the modem listing.
Reinstalling the modem did nothing and in any case it listed the right modem
as the driver. There is a recent technical bulletin on Xircom's site about
this problem, and one of the things it recommends (among several) is setting
the resources configuration manually. That worked! However, their advice
to set the configuration at 0005 or 0006 didn't. On my system, 0003 did.
You can tell when it works because closing out of it makes the exclamation
point indicating a problem driver vanish.
I have no idea why since there were no conflicts listed
under resources, but I gather that Windows doesn't do a good job identifying
conflicts.
Here is the relevant
section of the Xircom bulletin [in our REX FAQ], which concerned installing
a modem rather than the Rex, but there is a link from the Rex troubleshooting
to this one."
Rexextras
site updated (but Myles can barely keep up!). (From Myles)
" Just to let you know I've caught up with six more
addins on RexEXtras - it took quite a while with left handed typing, but
I'm getting faster gradually!"
Myles'
site is the best place to find links to all the REX add-ins available
for the REX 6000. Myles provides screen shots of the add-ins so you know
what to expect.
Cheap CR2016 batteries in the UK. (From Phil)
"I thought I would share this source of cheap batteries
for the REX6000 in the UK and typically it is next day delivery too (free
P&P too). Only £1.75 for each battery! http://www.watchbattery.co.uk/."
Rex 5000 - Win 2000 install problem and fix. (From
Diamond)
Diamond asked about an install problem he was having with
Win 2000:
"I recently upgraded my system to Win2K SP2 through
a clean install. After I got everything working OK, I went to re-install
the REX software. When I try to install TrueSync Desktop, it tells me
that a previous installation requires a reboot -- no matter how many times
I reboot! I can install TrueSync Plus just fine, but since I don't use
Outlook, Act, or Sidekick, it's not much use to me."
Luckily, he was able to solve his problem (only took four
hours of poking around!).
"There is a file called WININIT.INI in the main
Windows directory (WINDOWS or WINNT, depending on your OS). Delete or
rename it, and everything works"
This situation/tip might be useful for REX 6000/Win
2000 users as well.
Updated Find add-in released. (From Gerd)
"tiny update of the find addin ...
http://xtide.ldeo.columbia.edu/~krahmann/rex
After Joerg's request...under the contacts-slow-mode selection
the contacts field 'notes' is now searched in version 0.4d"
Rexdk updated, and new URL. (From Daniel)
Daniel has released an updated version of the rexdk. He
also has set up a new URL for his site, one that should be easier to remember:
"Hi,
I've just uploaded a new release of the rexdk. Nothing
special, I've just done some cleanup and most of the reported bugs should
have been fixed.
Daniel
http://rexdk.webhop.net"
REX "stinger" stylus option. (From Andrew)
"I was looking at your list of stylus options and
have one to suggest myself. I love using the Stinger
stylus with my Rex6000.
https://www.stingerstylus.com/
It's particularly good for gaming and typing - one on each
index finger helps to manage the scrunched-together controls. Check it out!"
Sync speed hack produces measureable results for some
users.
From Larry: "As you know, timing is dependent on
the number of changes and whether the memory has to be optimized. To keep
this as equal as I could get it, I first ran a synchronization to get
all changed items into the REX and memory optimized. I checked off one
of my task items in Outlook to force a change in the task list and to
re-optimize memory. I then ran another synchronization. Then I changed
the port speed and the registry, rebooted, unchecked the task and re-ran
the synchronization. I get the following approximate times:
- Fast registry and port speeds: 1 minute 8 seconds
- Slow registry and port speeds: 2 minutes 14 seconds"
From Greg: "I tried setting the COM port speed to
its maximum setting, and also changed the Registry entry. My sync speed
is already fast, and I noticed no improvement with the new settings. I
have Windows 2000 installed, which might make a difference. The Registry
key is located at...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\XIRCOM\REX
I am using the USB cradle. The maximum I could set its
port through the control panel was 128,000. It was originally set to 75
bps! Obviously, sync wasn't using that rate, or I'd be waiting all day.
I set the RATE key in the Registry to 921,600 from the original 57,600.
Sync speed did not change after any of these changes. "
So results may vary, depending on the port speed set on your
computer (and likely the Xircom registry setting is the one that really matters)
before you make the changes - the default speed may range from 9600 to 57600.
If anyone has any other measured before/after results to report, let
us know!
Follow-up: REX "speed" hack reported to speed
up sync.
Three reports have come in so far that the change that
Mikhail suggested (see below for the full story) to
speed up sync times works. Reports from two happy customers below, thanking
Mikhail:
"Did your hack to the registry and port for the
Rex, and it sped up the synchronization substantially! Thanks for your
great work!" (Larry)
"It works !!! What a brilliant idea, Why didnt I
think of it !!!!" (Evert.)
We don't have any before/after timings yet. If someone
has the time and patience to take that on to provide objective proof, please
let us know the results!
Some help for users of Sebastian's web-to-memo tool. (From
Sebastian)
"Hi ! I add a 'rex page'
on my site with a little documentation for my 'web to note' software...
http://www.chez.com/sebseb/"
See here on our Websync
page for more information on Sebastian's cool tool.
Updates to the Birthday add-in (two versions!). (From
Arjan)
"I updated my birthday addin using the sort algoritm
of van Menashe Dickman and implemented a scrollbar (it only works when dragging
the thumb). I also took the liberty to implement this scroll bar in the
addin of Menashe Dickman. Both addins [Arjan's and Menashe's] can be downloaded
from http://briefcase.yahoo.com/arjanmeskers."
Cross Micro-Pen makes an excellent stylus for REX.
Some pictures below of the Cross Micro-pen (first brought
to our attention by Otavio). It makes a great stylus with the leather case
- it looks very classy, has a nice feel, and includes both a stylus tip
and twist-to-open pen. The down-side? They ain't cheap at about $15 USD.
For more see our Stylus Options page.
New "Power-off" add-in for those tired of keyboard
shut-off. (From Mantillo)
"hello! The first release
of a shut-off-your-rex-just-with-stylus-add-in is out! It is named PowerOff
v0.9 and you can download it here:
http://www.onkelfuzzy.de/
Please, before you do use this addin, READ THE README.TXT!
Because there are two little 'problem-like' things that you should know.
have fun powering down your rex over and over,"
For those seeking the nirvana of stylus-only power-off
using Mantillo's add-in, remember the little trick using the web icon to
return to the main menu using your stylus. From pretty much any screen in
the REX you can tap the silk-screened Web icon to go to your web content
screen, and then tap the header on the web screen to go to the main menu
(or whatever "main" screen (today's date, Main, or Extras) you were last
on. From there it is simple to get to the power off add-in. From most screens
it will take four taps (Web icon, Web page header, Extras tab, power-off
add-in) to use the new add-in to poweroff...but that's still more fun that
pressing the home key. :-)
Myles digs up more information on the next Dataslim!!
Myles does it again!
"Further to my posting on RRC [about the Datasync
- see original story below for more background]
I found a further
link which directly refers to in being the next model of dataslim:
"With the information equipment zone, also the next
term model of the DataSlim being referred and being exhibited. The current
model connects through the PC card slot, but, with the next model it equips
the feeble radio system of 315MH Z in the substance. We build in the same
system, to also the cradle of USB connection type through the cradle,
we can take same period with the PC and the wireless. Of course, placing
on the cradle directly, high-speed same period (the 1.5mbps) "
"As for substance size thickness at 6.5 millimeters
as for weight approximately 40 grams. The liquid crystal the QVGA (320×240
pixel) with monochrome 16 gradation, can indicate also the photograph.
Power source builds in the lithium ion charge pond, with the cradle like
the portable telephone can do charge. 32 bit RISC tip/chip (the ARM7 and
10MH Z) you adopt the CPU, memory has loaded 4 M byte.
Price and sale time are undecided, but "we would
like to do approximately the same (2 ten thousand 5000 Yen as the DataSlim2).
You aim toward the sale during next year ", (the same company) with
you say. "
Could Citizen PDA be the next step
for REXers? (From Myles)
Citizen has created (is creating?) a new
PDA that looks like it received some of its DNA from the DS2! From the
information on the web page it looks like is is called a "Wireless
Datasync Card." Smaller than a palm, able to leap tall buildings in
a single bound . . . currently only available in Japanese. :-(
Myles got the following somewhat intelligible
text from the site using a web translation tool:
"you called " calendar " " address " " ToDo " " memo pad " " mail
" " portable calculator " " worldwide clock " " web ", provides minimum
necessary function for the PDA. It equips the feeble radio system of the
315mHz in the substance, if the range where radio wave reaches (2 - 3
meters) without placing in the cradle
You say you can adopt the lithium ion charge pond to the battery, 2 weeks
can utilize with normality use. The OS loads citizen individual ones,
stacks the memory of the 4m byte. Display 240×320 pixel, to build in the
sidelight, indication of monochrome 16 gradation is possible. It does
letter input with the software keyboard."
Zmcnulty - your translation services would
be greatly appreciated! What/when/how is this intriguing thing?!?!
New add-in to view images on REX. (From Benjamin)
There are ways to make images appear "nicely"
on the REX (see here in the REX FAQ for
information on preparing, loading and viewing images on the REX) but the
results are constrained by the limited display capabilities of the REX.
Benjamin has taken an initial step to try to improve that situation. (And
no, that's not a picture of Benjamin below.)
"You can find an add-in that uses flickering to
display a 4- level greyscale picture at:
http://www.lh.co.nz/software/rex/RexRunt.zip
Worth developing further?"
Mini-Tetris updated. (From Roo)
"I've finally got round to releasing an updated
version of MiniTetris. The two major bugs that people mailed me about
are fixed. Sorry about the delay folks! The source is available too.
You can find it at www.fiendishcat.com/rex"
Roo's site is worth visiting even if you don't want this
updated add-in - take a moment to wander around and enjoy the wit and graphics.
Another REX case idea - cost-effective and well
protected! (From Alex)
"Well, I just got my "PCCardPackaging" case,
and I love it. They're called "Pocket Box", and you need to specify that
you do not want the "open end" option.
Small, light, strong, what else do you need? Oh, perhaps
somewhere to store the stylus. Well here's my solution: cut a 1-inch piece
of rubber band, loop it, and superglue the two ends to the top of the case.
It works well end looks like this:
To get your own, just PayPal [email protected]
$2 for each case plus $5 for S&H. That's it!"
Sources for REX 6000 in Sweden. (From David)
"Bought my Rex 6000 at Siba last week. Apparently,
there are none left in Stockholm or Göteborg or in their web shop. But some
local stores still have it, and you can find their phone nos. on http://www.siba.se/.
Beware that it's listed as "Rax 600", two errors in one name. [!!]
I got mine for 795 kr (US$75) with USB cradle. From the
looks of it, they are still available at www.dustin.se,
but at the old, pre-discontinuation, price."
Speed up REX sync times? (From Mikhail)
"Then let me tell you one interesting trick I found.
It is very simple but I have not found it on your site (and in official
documents, of course!). Do you already know it???
I use for REX 6000 sync supplied USB cradle, and it is
really slow. BUT!!! I found in system options (Win98, Control Panel, system,
Com3, properties) that default settings for port speed are 9600. Why???
I have changed it to maximum possible (921600) and synchronization time
decreased!!! It is not easy to measure it exactly because every time Rex
Tools or IntelliSync does memory optimization, and it needs different
times. But I am sure that it becomes faster! And I have seen no errors
or problems.
Then... I have found, that in the system registry in
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\XIRCOM\REX] (and in Current_User, of course)
"RATE" by default is set to 57600. After change to 921600 it
looks sync becomes faster again!!!
What do you think about it? May be someone wants to check
it by tests? I am satisfied anyway - at least with higher settings nothing
turns worse..."
Maybe others out there can take a look at this and confirm
whether it is a useful "hack" or not? Let
us know what you find out!
New web sync tool using memos. (From Sebastian)
"I'm a rex6000 user and i've made a little tool to
synchronize web infos on my rex : a little program made in delphi to convert
text web pages to outlook notes.You must have Microsoft office 2000 &
a Windows OS with "active desktop" ...
How it works ? It runs microsoft word (in background),
downloads the web page, save it as text, opens outlook (in background too),
add a note with the web page text.
You can actually configure a list of web pages and specify
a title for each note.
The categorie for all notes is REXWEB_(current_date) :
it allows the program to delete old notes, so you only have the most recent
on your rex ...you can autorun the program with the /autorun command
If you want to test it, you can download
the program here."
Upgrade advice from Casio SF5300E Digital Diary. (From
Alvaro)
Alvaro recently upgraded to the REX from the Casio Digital
Diary. He has documented his experience and provided it to help other "converts"
in the future. See here in the REX FAQ for
all the details.
Thanks, Alvaro!