This is a flashback to when Psion news surfaced almost daily. Sadly, genuine updates about Psion PDAs are now as rare as hen’s teeth. Still, here’s an overview of Psion news — authentic, if rather dated. No new items will appear here until Psion Plc resumes manufacture of the Series 5.
The original Psion designers have returned to put the classic British pocket computer in a modern body. Martin Riddiford, the designer of the Psion Series 3 and Series 5 keyboards, and co-founder of Therefore, has come up with an entirely new design for the 21st Century. Patents were filed today, and the venture codenamed “Gemini” has launched on Indiegogo. Therefore co-founder Jim Fullalove explained to us: 'It’s a modern 64GB smartphone feature set, but with a beautiful new full travel compressible keyboard from Martin. The keyboard compresses under a magnetic spring force.' A new venture backed called Planet Computing is behind the new device, led by Dr Janko Mrsic-Flogel, a well known software author in the Sinclair era, and backed by Therefore, amongst others. The team will be using Indiegogo to help fund the project. Gemini will be dual platform with Linux and Android supported. But future variants may take it in other directions.
Just read this at the Octopus Systems site... they're still huge fans, that's for sure :-)
-BEGIN QUOTE- Please note that we no longer sell Psion products although we would still recommend them as the best palmtops available. They are fast, easy to use and very powerful and the battery life is superb, thanks to the mono screen. -END QUOTE-
There's a new PDA on the market, the PsiXpda! New? Doesn't it look exactly like the Psion 5MX... wait a minute... This is what the information sheet says: Free your time and work effortlessly with Epoc, and with no IT requirements PsiXpda is yours to pick up and go. Instant on, instant data access, whether you're the individual running a small enterprise or the individual in charge of a global corporation, PsiXpda gives complete reliability and productivity. With PsiXpda in your pocket you can travel without your IT department. To power a PsiXpda all you need is two AA alkaline batteries and you are connected for up to one-month. All sounds familiar doesn't it? PsiXpda features a full keyboard, a touch sensitive backlight LCD and a CF slot for extra memories and Games. PsiXpda is built around Epoc (32-bit multitasking system) and comes complete with built in word processing, spreadsheet, agenda and contact data base software. PsiXpda is compatible with Microsoft. Again... quite familiar. And then I looked at the pictures... Isn't this wonderful? The 5MX is back! And they're manufactured in 2005... by UK company POS Ltd...
It's 2004. Yes: and we just learned that Psion 5MX pro machines are manufactured again! You don't have to believe us, but it's true anyway. The press release goes as follows:
32mb RAM 5mx Pros are being re-manufactured in the UK and will carry a 6 month warranty. Our customers are constantly expressing their desire to obtain a Psion, and so we are pleased to be able to produce limited numbers of newly built machines from original new Psion parts in a purpose factory in Croydon in conjunction with the Psion authorised repair centre.
Now how about that?? Isn't that incredible. Talking about a revival. What is the reason?
the battery life?,
the fact that one can change the two AA batteries himself?,
the keyboard?, that this machine is not a PDA but actually a mini-notebook?, the great built in software?,... who can tell?