Index to my Psion and Epoc miniature computer pages.
Epoc is the operating system used by Psion computers since 1997, and in some GSM mobile phones in 2001. It is stable, feature rich, runs well on slower, battery conserving CPUs, and has a wealth of applications available. In 1997 Epoc 32 replaced the earlier range of SIBO pocket computers made by Psion since before 1990. Epoc formed the basis for the Symbian operating systems used by the major cellular phone manufacturers.
The eighty or so pages in this section of my web site describe the Epoc based Psion and compatible computers, their remarkable built in applications, and software available to run on them. Think of a Psion as a Swiss Army Knife of computing. Not your first choice for large projects, but compact, portable, and robust, always handy, and capable of handling more tasks than you initially think. Some people run their entire business from a Psion computer.
Applications
The built in applications in the Psion and other Epoc computers.
- Agenda
- Calendar, diary, anniversaries, 100 todo lists, alarms and organiser. Day, week, month, year, anniversary and todo views, flexible appearance and layout. Unlimited alarms. Multiple Agenda files.
- Calc
- A simple tape view calculator, plus a scientific calculator, swap from right hand to left hand operation.
- Comms
- Terminal emulation, communications package, ASCII, X and Y modem file transfer, use serial port or infrared (not in Revo).
- Contact
- vCard compatible contact and phone list, integrates with email, infrared beam entries (not in early Psion 5).
- Data
- Multiple flexible flatfile databases, with customised appearance, easy to configure with many field types including memos, drawings, Word files.
- Dialler
- DTMF dialling from within Contacts, Agenda and Data, without a modem.
- Email multiple mailboxes via infrared cellular phone, external modem, or PCMCIA card via adaptor. Also handles SMS and Fax.
- Help
- The extensive system wide help facility is a specialised instance of the Data application.
- IrDA
- Connecting to phones, printers, Psion and other PDAs, or Windows 9x PCs using the infrared port
- Jotter
- Quick organised jotter for those urgent notes (not in early Psion 5). Like Help, this is a specialised instance of the Data application.
- Program
- OPL organiser programming language, write your own object oriented, multitasking, graphics software (not in Revo).
- Printing
- Print via serial or optional parallel cable, or beam infrared, to some common printers. Print via PsiWin connection package on your PC to any Windows printer.
- Record
- Record voice notes and sound files, save sounds for alarms, convert MPG files on your PC and play them. External controls on Series 5 (not in Revo).
- Sheet
- Spreadsheet with over 100 functions, do fancy layouts and graphs for printing, embed sheets in Word files.
- SIS
- Automatic program installer and uninstaller works within the Psion, as well as directly from your PC. Download SIS programs from the net and install without a PC if you wish.
- Sketch
- A simple bitmapped drawing tool, embed pictures in Word or Data files (not in Revo).
- Spell
- Spelling checker, thesaurus, crossword help and anagram hints.
- Time
- Time in hundreds of cities, locations and distances apart, multiple alarms, world map, sunrise and sunset times, country and city dial codes.
- Web
- Web browser and jpg and gif picture viewer. Use PC to convert AVI to animated gif and play them. Provided on CD for some models.
- Word
- Word processor with outliner, style gallery, templates and spelling checker. Embed spreadsheets and graphs, sketches for signatures or illustrations.
- Zoom
- The Zoom in and Zoom out buttons let you change the size of material in applications to suit your eyesight and application viewing needs.
Epoc Computers Described
A one paragraph description of some Epoc based computers, with links to more detailed descriptions. See my Psion page for a more extensive list.
- Psion 3a (1993)
- Released in 1993 as an upgrade to Psion 3 (1991), with a larger 480x160 display, and some additional applications.
- Psion 3c (1996 upgrade)
- Communication port brought onboard, upgraded applications, larger memory (1 MB and 2 MB), 480x160 display, with backlight.
- Psion 3mx (1998)
- Internal modifications to increase the clock speed by a factor of three. Last in the SIBO range.
- Psion 5 (June 1997)
- First 32 bit version, with a faster and more capable ARM processor, touch screen, 4 MB or 8 MB of RAM memory and 6 MB of ROM with the EPOC operating system and applications, IrDA connections for GSM mobile phone and printing,
- Geofox (October 1997)
- A wonderfully clear 640x320 display, and glidepoint mouse instead of a touch screen.
- Oregon Scientific Osaris (1998)
- A lower cost (US$350 and US$400) version with a 320 x 200 display, 8 MB and 16 MB models and different ARM CPU.
- Psion 5mx and 5mx Pro (June 1999)
- Twice the speed, and 16 MB of memory, using Epoc Release 5, but only minor patches to the applications.
- Ericsson MC218
- Rebadged Psion 5mx, expanded to 12 MB ROM with Ericsson applications including a WAP browser and mobile phone support.
- Psion netBook (June 1999)
- VGA colour display (the first colour Psion), and 190 MHz StrongARM CPU, plus a Compact Flash and PCMCIA slot.
- Psion 7 (September 1999)
- A cheaper retail version of the netBook, with a slower processor, and 16 MB RAM (expandable to 32 MB).
- Psion Enterprise netPad
- Rugged water resistant pen tablet with 640 x 240 backlit colour display.
Psion Sites and software
Links to lots of Psion sites and Epoc software.
- Psion 3
- Programs for the discontinued Psion 3 range
- Banking
- Bank account, investment tracking, financial calculators
- Books
- Books in digital form to read on a Psion
- Business
- Business, financial and accounting programs
- Database
- Database programs and tools, to extent the Data application
- Drawing
- Drawing, sketching, CAD, vector drawing
- Encrypt
- Encode, encryption and security, password protection
- Editors
- Text editors and substitutes therefore
- Emulators
- Emulate Sinclair, PC and others, and their games
- Games
- Play time with your Psion, all the old favourite games
- GPS
- GPS, location and mapping, streets plans
- Internet
- Access email, web, news, irc, telnet, and others
- Maps
- lSources of maps in digital formats
- Medical
- Medical software
- Misc
- Various programs
- Photos
- Where to find the inside photos of various Psion models
- PIM
- Agenda assistants and PIM and contact managers
- Printing
- Drivers and printer helpers
- Programming
- Computer languages and tools
- Readers
- eBook and other text and book readers
- Science
- Astronomy, maths and calculators, science and technology
- Sites
- Other Psion and Epoc sites
- Sounds
- Music and sound tools, recording
- Sync
- Synchronising with a PC, converting file formats
- Time
- Time logging and management
- Utilities
- Various utility programs
Psion communications
Notes on Psion communications solutions.
- Psion 3 communications
- Obsolete note of Psion 3 communications
- Epoc 32 communications
- Psion 5 connections
- BigPond Mobile
- Telstra Big Pond phones
- Travelling
- On the road communications
- My local ISP
- Internet Whitsunday communications
Miscellaneous Information
- Bugs
- Placeholder for a list of bugs and problems.
- Convert
- Using regular Psion applications to convert files.
- Hints
- A list of hints and tips.
- History
- History of Psion computers.
- Keys
- Keyboard shortcuts.
- Learn
- Where to learn more on using Epoc.
- OPX
- Extending the facilities in OPL.
- OPL
- Organiser Programming Language.
- vs Palm
- Where Psion is more appropriate to use than Palm.
- Recommended
- Placeholder for software recommendations.
- Reviews
- Reviews of Psion models from the computer press.
- SIS
- The software install system and using it.