Quickies: Sony, McFile 2.1, Bejeweled, Pocket Quicken, ActiveECG

Posted By: As Listed Friday, June 14, 2002 8:14:55 AM

The Sony T415, T425, and N760C have officially been discontinued by Sony. In the UK, Sony dropped the price on the T625C to £300 inc VAT. -Dan Royea and others

McFile 2.1 is now available. This app works as a file manager, allowing users access to the full directory tree on expansion cards. It supports HandEra and Sony hi-res screens, plus the NR series' hi-res+. It costs $12. -Lee Kee Lin

Astraware is close to releasing a version of Bejeweled that takes advantage of the enhanced sound capabilities of the later Sony devices. -Ed

Cnet Editors have voted LandWare's Pocket Quicken the best Palm application on the market. It was also given the Cnet Editors' Choice award. -PR

Active Medical Australia is now offering the ActiveECG in Australia. The ActiveECG is a cardiac monitor that works with Palm handhelds. -PR

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T415 available in Canada

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:27:11 AM #
Is the T415 officially discontinued in the UK, because it's still available in Canda....
RE: T415 available in Canada
popko @ 6/14/2002 12:18:50 PM #
We have the following model all of which are still on sale in Canada:
- S320,S360
- T415
- N760C
- NR70V

I personally would like to get a T615 ... oh well, I'll just get them from the US.

RE: T415 available in Canada
Palm_Otaku @ 6/14/2002 1:08:54 PM #
Well that's probably because that's what the resellers still have in stock. If you check www.sony.com/clie/ you can see what current and what's discontinued.

Time to Speculate

Beavis @ 6/14/2002 9:27:28 AM #
So, the Sony Clie T-615 was not discontinued? I wonder if they are going to keep producing this as their entry level color device while the T65x is going to be the mid-range PDA with the MP3 playback and the improved screen. Sounds about right for the T-615 to compete with the Treo 90 and the Palm m130

RE: Time to Speculate
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:42:41 AM #
If so, I think Sony would surely win the low end market! :-)
RE: Time to Speculate
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:51:56 AM #
Frys has the T615 units in stock and only $249!
RE: Time to Speculate
Ed @ 6/14/2002 9:52:27 AM #
Beavis, funny you should bring this up. I just heard from someone who said he tried to buy a T615C from SonyStyle and, as he described it, "a message popped up that it had been inactivated and had been removed from my cart."

I tried to check this by putting in an order myself. However, I got to the point where I had to put in my credit card number and stopped.

Can anyone confirm that SonyStyle is no longer letting people buy the T615C?

---
News Editor

RE: Time to Speculate
Palm_Otaku @ 6/14/2002 1:11:35 PM #
I'll speculate that the rumored T655C will replace the T615C, and that Sony will keep the S360 as it's entry level device.

Of course, we'll likely see some big changes in their line-up with ARM devices just around the corner.

Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound

PengLord @ 6/14/2002 9:35:21 AM #
Bejeweled will soon take advantage of the enhanced sound (and it look great). The Hi-Res version won't be out for a while, if it even does come out.

RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:49:00 AM #
Go Astraware!! We need new reviews!! Now, why do we need a HiRez version of Bejeweled? Sharper looking stars and circles.... aaaahhhh. And cool 3D sounds of the little items falling will make my Palm investment all worth while.
RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:13:09 AM #
Yes, yes, I agree.
We need hi-res squares and rectangles and superior bleep sounds.
RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:19:58 AM #
We need it as much as we need another driving game, first person shooter, or karate game for any platform. Game developers are in a rut. What happened to all the creativity?

If you are going to argue that they are making what the customers want, then you can't complain about Bejeweled, probably the best selling handheld game of all time, Palm and PPC included.

RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:57:35 AM #
> What happened to all the creativity?

Creativity? There's little creativity in most media because companies are RISK AVERSE. They want a sure thing like Bejeweled or another Tetris clone. Unfortunately, the public is fed up with these types of games.

And Creativity is like common sense: quite uncommon. Don't expect it at all from most companies. I'm pleasantly surprised when creative games come out, but I certainly don't hold my breath at all.

The best handheld games require you to have a Gameboy Advance or an emulator. I'll take Zelda or Mr. Driller anyday over Bejeweled or any other Astraware game.

RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
pontif @ 6/14/2002 12:04:59 PM #
"Runes for Clie" by webvista (www.webvista.com) is now out. It is hi-res and makes excellent use of the graphics for some really sharp images, and has decent sound too. It is a matching game somewhat similar to Bejeweled. I'd recommend everyone at least try it...

RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 12:40:47 PM #
you mean http://www.webvisia.com/
RE: Bejewed will take advantage of the enhanced sound
pontif @ 6/14/2002 3:51:22 PM #
Yes, I do mean webvisia. Sorry, was typing from memory. Thanks for fixing the link.

I've played it for a while now, and think it is definitely worth trying.

And as you can see from botching their name, I have no association with the company other than appreciating the product.

Whoa

jayhawk88 @ 6/14/2002 9:41:51 AM #
Is it just me, or did that n760c have the quickest turn-around time from release to discontinue in history? Was it really selling that bad that Sony couldn't even be bothered to cut the price a couple times?

RE: Whoa
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:46:18 AM #
Limited run and ran out of inventory or everything is a 'test' market tool for what they are really going to bring out. As they get better and better at their handhelds it will be harder to keep up with the latest coolest. And all the power that goes with those new tools.
RE: Whoa
mashoutposse @ 6/14/2002 11:10:59 AM #
What are you talking about? The N760C (basically an N710C with OS4.1) is over a year old. The N-series has been replaced by the NR and the mp3-playing T665C.

Whoa
jayhawk88 @ 6/14/2002 11:20:47 AM #
Hmmm, looks like I did have the n760 confused with the NR series (the one with the twistable screen, but doesn't have the camera). Oh well.

RE: Whoa
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 11:23:09 AM #
Is it just me, or did that m505 have the quickest turn-around time from release to discontinue in history?
RE: Whoa
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 12:11:21 PM #
Sorry, no. I believe this honor goes to the T415.
RE: Whoa
Palm_Otaku @ 6/14/2002 1:04:12 PM #
Heh, why don't you guys just check www.PalmEvolution.com?

Shortest lifespan award (North America distribution category) goes to....

...it's a tie!

The Clie N710C was replaced by the N760C within 4 months; and the T615C by the T655C (if the rumor is correct).

Trivia question for extra marks
Which PalmOS device had the LONGEST lifespan?

--- Dan

RE: Whoa
Rolando @ 6/14/2002 2:21:18 PM #
"Which PalmOS device had the LONGEST lifespan?"

I'd guess the Palm III or Visor Deluxe.

RE: Whoa
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 4:37:36 PM #
Not the Visor Deluxe. The TRG Pro would even have it beat

best Palm application on the market... your kidding!

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:42:51 AM #
OK, we all are real happy for landware. But 'Best on the market award'! Why do they feel they have to single one app out? Limit budget for awards? I guess everyone else will just have to write apps that are usable for everyone and be happy that we love them for it. :-)
PocketQuicken? You're joking...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 9:51:17 AM #
Are you serious?

There are about 2 dozen better financial applications out there. They should have picked something that is at least far and away the best in its class, like WordSmith.

RE: PocketQuicken? You're joking...
ardee @ 6/14/2002 9:57:57 AM #
Here's one:

http://www.catamount.com/PocketMoneyPalm.html

RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:06:07 AM #
what are those better financial programs.


RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
madhatter @ 6/14/2002 10:46:22 AM #
"what are those better financial programs."

Try Splashmoney. Syncs with Quicken, has multiple accounts, and you can create a report right on your Palm.


A Palm in hand is worth two in your pocket.

RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 11:02:26 AM #
I guess because they haven't tried anything else! Like me for example, I think pocket quicken is one of the best applications I have on my palm (expensive) this is one of those that I cannot live without.

But because I am so satisfied with it I have not experiemented to try anything else, not only that, i paid at least 40 bucks for it, if there is another application out there that is better than PQuicken, I do not want to know about it for I'm not going to shell more money for it

RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 11:04:40 AM #
The list is here:
http://home.cnet.com/software/0-3415622-7-2536613.html?tag=bb

>>There are about 2 dozen better financial applications out there<<

Pocket Quicken is the ONLY application that can perform a direct syncronization with Quicken. You do not have to deal with the hastle importing & exporting QIF files.

RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 11:13:35 AM #
Yo, i use PocketQuicken 1.x, and it is the most expensive, least bang for buck software. Well, depends on how you define bang for a buck. I use it a lot (NOT going to upgrade to 2.x. I felt so cheated by this software that such a simple thing and cost so much), and still do. It suffice for my purposes. If you define "bang" by how much I use it... then I guess it was good. But then... I use memopad a lot... do I expect memopad/memopad-replacement to cost a lot then? Or should I expect it to cost very little (because it is easier to program?) I believe the latter should be the case. You get paid what your efforts entail.

Best in class? Yuck! I know 2.x improved quite a bit, but at that price, and the limited advertised features (compared to others), and such a bad experience with 1.x... I highly doubt those people in CNET has any real computer-literate people left. (Many of their other reviews in computer software is as bad).

RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
Lucky Dragon @ 6/14/2002 3:24:17 PM #
"...I use [PocketQuicken v1] a lot (NOT going to upgrade to 2.x. I felt so cheated by this software that such a simple thing and cost so much), and still do. It suffice for my purposes. If you define "bang" by how much I use it... then I guess it was good...Best in class? Yuck! I know 2.x improved quite a bit, but at that price, and the limited advertised features (compared to others)..."

Worth every penny, in my opinion, and v2 is worth upgrading to. I agree with your point that it's probably not the best Palm software EVER though. <G> I suspect part of the reason for the high price is the royalties LandWare has to pay Intuit in order to be able to integrate so seamlessly with Quicken.

RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 3:39:40 PM #
I agree, you can't really base any opinion of Pocket Quicken on v.1, the improvement in v.2 are HUGE. The direct sync with Quicken is quite awesome and the functionality of the program is very impressive, with quite a small footprint, considering it has all my memorized transactions in there. It's apps like this that keep me sticking with the Palm versus going to the PPC (just try and find something as good, that works with Quicken, instead of forcing me to use MS Money).
RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 4:38:50 PM #
Well, personally, Pocket Quicken is the app that makes me unlikely of getting a non-PalmOS PDA. I don't need reporting on the PDA. I just need something to keep up my register so that ATM or debit card receipts don't get forgotten or misplaced. And the appeal of Pocket Quicken is that it syncs directly with Quicken (no QIFs), and since it's Intuit-endorsed will likely continue to do so in subsequent versions.
RE: best Palm application on the market... your kidding!
LanMan @ 6/18/2002 5:55:40 PM #
Clinton Logan, promised that the Pocket Quicken 2.x product would not lay dormant with no updates as the PQ v1.x product did. Well it's been a year since the release of PQ2 and there are no updates yet announced. I would like to know where are the "frequent" PQ2/PQ3 revisions?

What do you say, Clinton?

<><

hi-res Bejewelled - close [is this news]?

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:30:09 AM #
Astraware is close to releasing a version of Bejeweled that takes advantage of Sony hi-res screens.
Come on Ed, thought you could do better than this. Many companies are close to releasing a lot of things - its not news worthy to say "yeah, we are close, but, not there yet")? This is just another +1 to Astraware's mention on PIC.

When they *release* a hi-res version - then, its news. I just hope you dont post a news item saying "Ok, Astraware has now released hires bejewelled". Will we need a 66Mhz processor to run this? Astraware said themselves a hi-res version wasn't possible.

Yes
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:39:24 AM #
1) Its the best selling Palm application ever. Anything that happens with it is news.

2) If you don't like the way Ed runs things, get your own site.

RE: hi-res Bejewelled - close [is this news]?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/14/2002 10:48:39 AM #
Astraware is close to releasing a version of Bejeweled that takes advantage of Sony hi-res screens.
Astraware announces new version of Bejeweled.
Astraware is proud to annouces the release of the new Bejeweled.
Review of Astraware's new Bejeweled.
Astraware upgrades is popular award winning Bejeweled.
Astraware releases update to their hirez version of their number one selling Bejeweled.
Review of Astraware's updated Bejeweled.
News flash: Garbage collector seen using Palm with Bejeweled and loves it.

Just trying to help out on future article titles.

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