Programy:

plBeam

plBeam is an application enabling exchange of data through infrared port with other palmtops, PCs and a wide range of machines using the IrOBEX standard.

EPOC system in ER5 version (Psion Series 5mx and later models) enables transmission using the IrOBEX standard. However, it is limited to exchange of single contacts and entries in Agenda only. plBeam breaks this barrier and allows for sending and receiving the whole data files and not only single records.

plBeam works perfectly with other systems using the IrOBEX standard, among others:
- Windows 2000 and Windows Me,
- Windows 95 and Windows 98 (sending files to these systems requires installing special software that is supplied with IrDa adapters),
- Nokia 9210
- PalmOS,
- WindowsCE and PocketPC (Pacemaker software has to be installed),
- CPen,
- WizCom,
- and many others.

Thanks to plBeam you do not have to install PsiWin software on your PC nor do you need a serial link cable anymore to be able to exchange data.

Try plBeam before Buy (in our shop).

Look at plBeam documentation, FAQ and some user comments

Steve Litchfield did a review of plBeam in Palmtop magazine (issue 34):

"Despite both being a specialist utility and being hampered by limitations in the operating systems it talks to, plBeam is still well worth trying out. And because it includes EPOC's existing infrared functionality and assumes control of the same command icon, you won't even know it's installed until you need it." (Palmtop magazine issue 34)

plBeam awarded a Geek.Com Pick !

Milan Tjioe did a great review of plBeam !

plBeam documentation

plBeam application can be used in three different ways:

1. Standard EPOC application mode

After executing plBeam from the Extras Bar a window will open up and plBeam will be ready to receive files through Infrared.
If you would like to send a file to other device you need to tap the "Send file" box (or press Enter), plBeam will ask you to choose the file you want to send and after you choose one it's ready to start the send process. Once transmission has been finished (or cancelled by user) it goes back into receiving mode.

All received files will be saved in C:\Documents folder if one exists and in C:\ folder if it doesn't.

2. Single file transfer mode

pl Beam can be run from within an application when given the name of the file to be sent (file with that name must exist). In such case plBeam starts in Send Mode and gets closed after the transfer is done.

3. A substitution of standard infrared "Send and receive" mode

After installation of plBeam has been completed an "Infrared" icon will appear in Control Panel. After you tap that icon you will be asked if you want to install plBeam driver. If you decide to do so you will be presented with a plBeam information window.

From that moment plBeam takes over all standard file transfer functions ofan EPOC operating system.

From that moment on sending and receiving files to and from other OBEX enabled devices becomes very easy. It's enough to choose a folder where we want to place files and choose "Infrared receive" from the side bar menu (the one built-in into the screen). Sending files works the same way: you choose "Infrared send" from the same menu.

plBeam is able to automatically determine whether other device is an EPOC device or for example Windows 2000 and choose appropriate transmission protocol.

If you want to uninstall plBeam driver do the soft reset (consult your manual if you don't know how to do so).

plBeam FAQ

Q: What are the devices plBeam can communicate with?
A: It can communicate with all devices supporting OBEX standard, these include:
- Windows 2000
- Windows ME
- Windows 95 and 98 (require installation of additional software)
- PalmOS
- PocketPC (require installation of additional software)
- C-Pen
- WizCom
- Quicklink
and many others

Q: I have Windows 95 (or 98), plBeam receives sent files but is unable to send any, what is wrong and is there any fix?
A: Windows 95 and 98 don't support OBEX standard. Additional software has to be installed (for example QuickBeam Suite from Extended Systems, www.extendedsystems.com).

Q: What software is necessary for PocketPC to work with plBeam?
A: Peacemaker from Conduits (www.conduits.com) is the only one we are aware of working at the moment and only partially (read below).

Q: I'm trying to send files to palmtop with PocketPC (with Peacemaker software installed) but I only get some garbage on the screen. What's wrong?
A: Peacemaker treats all unknown to it file types as text. Data exchange with this software is only possible for the text files.

User comments

pIBeam sounds like a "killer ap" for the Psion, if it does everything it's supposed to, since we are increasingly living in a Palm world. ...
- by Jonathan Friedes

I just downloaded this program and I love it (works with Win 2000!) ...
- by Steve Moore

This is a great start in cross platform beaming ability. I could beam my Palm memo database to my Psion and read it with Pbd read. I wrote a few things using the Palm Take Note word processor and beamed across and read it with eBook on Psion. I converted Day Notez diary info to doc format on the Palm and beamed across to read it on Psion ebook. I'm not sure what else one can do with it but it's pretty cool. What would be nice is a Palm format doc writer for the Psion so that one could beam a document back and forth for editing. It's really fast at beaming, almost instant. - by zookeeper

This is brilliant news and no mistake! I am able to beam files from my laptop to my psion except for text files for some reason) no problem - this is a complete first and I am surprised Psion themselves have never done this before. I mean the market dent for not being able to have this functionality must have been large. I scratch my head in wonder!

Congratulations to the guys at PsiLoc for cracking this one.
- by Baz

I tried this out on a Windows NT4.0 PC running QuickBeam and it worked very well indeed.

...I guess this is a useful little extra to have installed since it increases the number of machines you can transfer with significantly, especially now there are many good file convertors around running on EPOC. - by Kevin Millican