[Reader-users] Memory card readout; next software upgrade

Fri Jan 19 17:57:07 CST 2007

It's only a problem in that you will sometimes have trouble getting a full
charge as it thinks it has more than 100%.  Because of some inaccuracies in
each individual battery, the definition of 0 and 100% are set in software
designed for the average battery.  Thus, some devices were released that
"believed" 0 to mean 0 and never checked to make sure they weren't dipping
below it.  So, if you are running out of battery frequently, there's
probably a problem in the battery circuit that the PDA manufacturer should
have a ROM upgrade to fix. 

We worked around it in PAC Mate by never letting a unit go below a certain
threshold (3% I think).  So, rather than going to zero, it shuts down and
uses the remaining battery to keep one's data fresh until you charge it - a
much better outcome than everything going hooey when you get a battery level
of 255 or -1 depending upon how the software views it.

Needless to say, we fixed the bug so who ever makes the PDA can as well.

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nancy B. Gibson
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 2:31 PM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Memory card readout; next software upgrade

Chris - It may make sense but since I'm not technically inclined, what does 
it mean? My unit has indicated the 255% charge a few times also. Is it a 
problem? Do I need to care or just ignore it?

Nancy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Hofstader" <chris.hofstader at knology.net>
To: "'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list'" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Memory card readout; next software upgrade

> If I remember correctly from when we were building the PM, this is very
> likely a bug in Windows CE/Windows Mobile resulting from misinterpreting 
> the
> values on the battery circuit.  A battery level of 255 is also a value 
> of -1
> if the number is stored as a byte (which it is).
>
> This bug showed up all the time on the Dell Axim 50V when Dell still made
> PPC based PDA devices.   They fixed it with a ROM upgrade and, if my guess
> is correct, that's likely the solution to this problem as well.
>
> Also, if it is indeed the same issue as on the Axim, it will not show up 
> on
> every unit.  There are various tolerances built in and some battery 
> circuits
> find that 0 is a "smaller" value than others.  Others will think they are
> fully charged when only a few percent because their calibration let them
> fall below 0 so, when the system subtracts 1 from 0 and gets 255, the
> circuit thinks it is overcharged and shuts down the charging process to
> prevent fires and batteries exploding in your laps.
>
> Does this make sense?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deborah Kendrick
> Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 9:03 AM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Memory card readout; next software upgrade
>
> Hi Jim and all,
> I thought I should speak up on this one, since I've had some slightly
> similar problems.
> My unit loses charge very easily - and when I recharge (and almost every
> time, also have to reset) the unit, it sometimes announces the battery
> status as 255 percent.  Pretty neat trick, if it could do that.  I just
> ignore it, and usually after a few more queries with the double F1 press, 
> it
>
> decides that it's only 100 percent after all.
> Could this be related to the misinformation regarding available memory?
>
> Deborah
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gashel, James" <JGashel at nfb.org>
> To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list"
> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 8:47 AM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Memory card readout; next software upgrade
>
>
> Hi Bill:
>
> This sounds like a definite bug to me.  Please send me a message with
> your email address.  We need to correspond about this further.
>
> Concerning the next release, I thought it would be out this week.
> However, we have encountered a few problems relating to file saving.
> This is causing a small delay.  It is possible that the bug you have
> encountered is something we can and should address during this process.
>
>
> Thanks, J. G.
>
> ******************************************
>
> James Gashel
> Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> 1800 Johnson Street
> Baltimore, Maryland  21230
> Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
> Fax:  (410) 685-5653
> Email:  jgashel at nfb.org
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Outman
> Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 7:46 AM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: [Reader-users] Memory card readout; next software upgrade
>
> Good morning, list.
>
> I experienced some unusual behavior from my reader yesterday when I was
> showing it at a meeting.
>
> I turned it on and it gave me a low memory warning and when I checked
> the battery status and memory and the reader showed a full charge but
> also a full SD card.  I know that's impossible since I've only had the
> reader for about a month and I've only saved a few things accounting for
> perhaps 5% of the memory space on the card.  So I did a reset of the PDA
> using the recessed button and the next I did a status check after the
> reader came up again it indicated the memory card was missing though of
> course I haven't removed it at all.
>
> What's the deal here and what do I do?  I should note I'm using version
> 3.1.5 which is how it came to me and I bought the unit through Fla.
> Reading & Vision Tech. in Ft. Lauderdale.
>
> By the way is the any word yet of when the upgrade Jim spoke of a couple
> weeks ago might be released?
>
> Bill Outman
> Daytona Beach, Florida
>
>
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