So far with my JE100

[datebtraveller]

Hi Ondabeach and fellow Jointech reader owners:

This is so far what I use with my JE100 (wifi dongle included),
excluding what came with the unit:

-Pocket Paintbrush
-Pocket Excel
-nDispatcher screen capture software PrtScr
-Pocket rar from rarLabs
-uBook
-Process explorer for Pocket PC (though it doesn't seem to show all
processes as its XP version does)
-Harvey Rowe's C# IDE Mobile

-A trojan virus (irony) I caught as soon as I started using Pocket
Internet Explorer. That's why I hoped process explorer would help me
see something suspicious: when I connect to the Internet the task bar
icon shows activity even though Pocket Internet Explorer is closed

-Today I've just received a cheap solar usb charger and I'm already
disassembling it so I can attach it to the 'lid' of the artificial
leather cover. If the charger makes a substantial difference (say, be
able to surf the web for more than two hours) then I'll keep it
attached and show you a picture. I might need a bigger panel.

-IS ANYBODY IN THE POSITION OF MAKING CONTACT WITH JOINTECH AND
SUGGEST A BIGGER SOFTWARE INPUT PANEL/ONSCREEN KEYBOARD? IT'S NOT
EXACTLY AN IPAD, BUT WHY NOT BEING ABLE TO TYPE ON AN ONSCREEN
KEYBOARD THAT TAKES UP ALL THE WIDTH AVAILABLE EITHER FOR PORTRAIT OR
LANDSCAPE MODE?

[Steve]

Hi datebetraveller,

Thanks for sharing that info, I look forward to seeing the pics of
your solar panel/cover. I have a couple of those solar phone chargers
kicking around here somewhere.

Just in case you get a lot of cloudy weather you might want to buy
yourself a spare battery or two. The JoinTech JE100 and JE200 both
use
the Nokia BP-4L battery from their E71 and E90 mobile phones, these
batteries are available very cheap on ebay.

I have to agree with you about the SIP, it is fairly ordinary. I made
my own a few years ago as part of another project. I had intended to
dig up the code for it and incorporate it into ZuluReader. I might
also look at making it a stand alone app that can replace the standard
one on the JE's, I'll post more on that later :)

Does anyone know of any replacement SIP's already available?

Cheers,

Steve.

[datebtraveller]

Speaking of cloudy days, I've managed to use the je100 even on quite
feeble light conditions. I've soldered three pairs of 2.5 v cells in
parallel, being each pair in series. The whole thing yields 5v 180mA
(open circuit, under a bit of indirect sunlight or a 60w incandescent
lightbulb: you can even enter a room with artificial light and start
running on cell power!). This is not a technical explanation, nor a
pro-level project, but it's so simple that it actually works. The six
cells come from three cheap chinese solar usb chargers, and definately
take up less area than that of the je100. I'm undecided as to whether
to stick some velcro stripes to the back of the cells and device or to
the leather case. You know, I just wanted my solar e-reader, and no
manufacturer has put a model on the market, though we've seen a couple
of prototypes (like the LG's one).

The cells can't do but only power the device, not being able to charge
the battery, when it's on. The batt eventually goes completely
discharged, then you start running on the cells (can't run the device
with the cells while not having the batt inside; if someone shadowed
the cells the device would instantly turn off, and it would take some
ten minutes charging to be able to turn the device back on and start
using it with 4% of charge: so the batt would quickly go to 0% and
start running on cells again: thus it mught be useful when there's no
power outlet near but strong artificial light conditions, say for
example that you're at a conference room and you can't move onto a
seat near the power outlet)

It really is a low power device, as long as you don't start using the
wifi dongle...

> > LANDSCAPE MODE?- Ocultar texto de la cita -
>
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[Steve Dales]

Hi Walter,

 

Nice work on the solar power unit. How are you getting power from the cells into the device?

 

If you are putting it in via the host USB socket then it should charge the battery provided there is enough juice coming through, or at the least it should maintain it's charge or extend the battery life. If you are running the wires straight in to the battery then that would explain your problem as the charge regulating circuitry is being bypassed.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve.

[datebtraveller]

I soldered a mini usb male to the wire, so it plugs into the host usb
socket (I knew the device had some kind of circuit to smooth out the
input, didn't want to run the risk of wiring the cells straight to the
batt). Another thing I noticed that goes beyond my scarce knowledge is
the fact that, when I place the device under the lightbulb, It's
supposed to charge the device (the led shines intensely) while I
leave it unattended for some ten minutes. But then when I come back I
notice that the battery percentage actually dropped! I surmise the
power from the battery might be draining towards the cells, either
when I'm using the device or when I leave it on trying to charge it. I
guess I'll have to solder that shoktty diod I have, and see what
happens. I didn't soldered the diod for fear that a voltage drop would
be too much. Anyway I'm happy with the results. Thanks for the
feedback.

[Steve Dales]

Yes, I think the batts are draining through the cells but a diode would do the trick, different diodes have varying voltage drops, so check with your local electronics shop and see what they recommend.