1src Forums - Polyphonic alarms

View Full Version : Polyphonic alarms - Lets Tell Sony

PhilD

11-07-2003, 10:52 AM

Hello to all. I just got a TJ35 and, as I have read many of you mention, have been rather disappointed with the alarms provided. So, I thought I would write Sony and tell them.

My understanding is that there are software utilities in other Clie devices that could provide a fix for this in the TJ series. Below is a clip from the letter I sent Sony.

First, you products are really second to none! What you have managed to offer for the money is incredible! As I mentioned, the largest complaint I have heard (and my own) is the return to the old BEEP(ing) alarms. (with the exception of the three ADPCM rings available) Since it is apparent that Sony already has a utility that can provide this functionality on the TJ series it would be wonderfully pleasant to see it provided on the support page. This would also be a strong statement of customer support and the acknowledgment that Sony truly wants to proved the best PDA devices and support in the industry! (I would take it this way and I know thousands of others would too)

The second item is really an alternative to the above suggestion. If Sony chooses not to provide means for polyphonic (midi?) alarms, it would be nice if more ADPCM alarms were provided. Along side this, it would also be nice if a PC utility was provided to create our own ADPCM alarms (without having to be a developer).

I was thinking that if enough of us make this complaint known Sony might just provide this software utility. Thoughts and or opinions are welcome. Letters to Sony are encouraged!

Thanks,

PhilD
:cool:

Unregistered

11-08-2003, 08:06 AM

I agree. This is my only complaint with the TJ35

Unregistered

11-11-2003, 07:26 AM

I've just bought a TJ35. What do you mean by the alarms? Is this the beeping noise it makes whenever you click on something?

PhilD

11-11-2003, 10:18 AM

no, that is the system sounds. I keep them turned off. The alarms are the provided system alarm types used in the world clock and other applications that use the system alarms. Many of them sound like rings or the annoying beep-beeeep musings of the old commadors.

PhilD

Unregistered

11-11-2003, 06:46 PM

o i c.

riversen

11-11-2003, 08:49 PM

Have you tried this experiment? Borrow the Sound Utility from the TG50 and see if it answers your questions? I found that it seemed to work. It's just a thought... though not a great one.

PhilD

11-12-2003, 12:50 PM

No, I have not tried it. I would be interested to see if it actually works though. It would be nice to know that what I wrote to Sony was accurate. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone with a TG50. Otherwise I would try it for verification purposes.

PhilD

riversen

11-12-2003, 01:32 PM

If you had an app that you could beam to a TG50, let's just say for argument sake, ;-) at a retail store where you would would find a TG50 on display and then used that app to beam the Sound Utility app back to your TJ, then you would have access to this program to try it. I am pretty sure that this works. ;-)

Of course, I deny having ever done this.

Unregistered

11-12-2003, 08:25 PM

For argument's sake, what app would your theorectically beam to the TG50?

riversen

11-13-2003, 12:06 AM

For argument sake, I would beam the Sound Utility App to the TJ. That appears to be the only app needed for sound and polyphonic speaker.

hotpaw4

11-13-2003, 01:55 AM

The Sound Utility App from the T615 or TG does not contain a polyphonic standard midi synthesizer which will work on a TJ. It will play ADPCM (WAV) sounds though.

PhilD

11-13-2003, 08:46 AM

Okay, lets take this another way... Since the debate exists as to if you can really get true polyphonic MIDI sounds on the TJ35, how about ADPCM sounds?

Does anyone know how to convert waves to this format for the yamaha library? Does anyone know how to package them so you can use them as system sounds? This would really be nice to know in the spirit of customization!

Okay, any ideas anyone?

PhilD

riversen

11-13-2003, 09:30 AM

I don't, since I have not taken this any futher than seeing that the Sound Utility does work.

BobT

11-13-2003, 06:34 PM

I have a 665 and beamed "Sound Utility" to my new (bought today) TJ35. Causes a reset everytime, incompatable issue due to different processors.

I miss the alarm sounds on my 665... any one know where I can "pick-up" Sound Utility that will work on my TJ35?

Please.... :-)

NJL!2016

11-13-2003, 06:52 PM

Polyphonic audio should be the standard for all OS5 devices.

PhilD

11-14-2003, 07:11 AM

Well, I think my questioning of Sony is over. After several days of email, Sony's tech support proved to be as little help as most others. Below is a documentory of the conversations:

Response from Customer Support: Thank you for visiting SonyStyle.com with your query regarding your Sony CLIE, PEG-TJ35. I suggest that you contact our Technical Support team for assistance. Please submit all requests for technical assistance using the email web form located at the following URL:

http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/clie/email.html

In the drop-down menu below the caption "Subject of Your Email?", please categorize your mail as "product support". Please feel free to contact us if you require any further assistance. Email to Tech Support:
Is there any way to create and add ADPCM alarm sounds to be used in the World Clock and other applications that use the system alarms? Are there instructions available on how to do this if it is possible? If it isn't, It would be a very nice customize feature if Sony would make some others available.
Reponse from Tech Support: SONY does not assist with the installation, configuration or troubleshooting issues of third-party software applications. We are available to assist in resolving technical issues with SONY supplied software only. As such, SONY can not warrant nor guarantee the usability, or functionality, of any third-party hardware or software installed into our CLIE Handhelds.

Alternatively, you may contact the SONY Customer Information Services Center. Although there is no guarantee of a resolution, this will allow our SONY trained technicians to diagnose your issue. We are available toll-free at 877-760-SONY (7669), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From outside the U.S. and Canada, you may contact us at 239-768-7676.Yep, gota love tech support. Well I guess I will wait a few months until some hacker figures out how to use Sony's SDK to create new System_ADPCM_Sounds.prc and then use theirs. I don't have the time it would take for me to figure it out. Someday a company will listen and get it right, or at least fix what they did wrong!:rolleyes:

PhilD

hotpaw4

11-14-2003, 12:28 PM

You can use OnBoard/Quartus RsrcEdit to copy ADPCM sounds into the system files on the TJ35.

BobT

11-14-2003, 01:00 PM

I installed an old system_midi file to my TJ35 and my 665. I used WA Clock on the TJ35 to see how each selection sounded, then I used Sound Utility on the 665 to delete the ones which sounded terrible on TJ35. After all this, I beamed the updated system_midi file on the 665 to my TJ35.

Would have been much easier if I had Sound Utility that was compatible with my TJ35.... hint, hint. (Anybody... Sound Utility for TJ35.... pleeeeease!!!)

craiglester

11-14-2003, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by hotpaw4
You can use OnBoard/Quartus RsrcEdit to copy ADPCM sounds into the system files on the TJ35.

Hotpaw, do you think you could elaborate a little?

I'd love to add a few more ADPCM sounds to my TJ35 without having to use Wav alarms

I had a look on the quartus website about RsrcEdit, but I couldnt find anything about adding files ..

Excuse my Ignorance, but do you think you could post a quick guide?
Many thanks

Craig

BobT

11-14-2003, 04:51 PM

Here's what I did... not perfect but its better than nothin'.

Downloaded Geeksounds from freewarepalm. Over 100 sounds, all sound OK on the TJ35.

http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/geeksounds.shtml

Downloaded the free trial version of HoHo from PalmGear. Used it to delete the individual midi sounds from Geeksounds I did not care for or want. May register this app so I can create my own midi sounds on my TJ35.

http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&sid=02838A5A-6123-4FA0-BFC66A6427B84310&prodID=39993

Like I said, not perfect and perhaps not what you're looking for or want. But I find it better than what Sony provided... nilch.

 

Unregistered

11-17-2003, 03:04 PM

Let's say one is trying to beam "Sound Utility"... When I am in the main launcher, I select the beam icon, and the "Sound Utility" app has a lock icon indicating that it is copy-protected...

How are you guys able to beam this app?

Thx!

riversen

11-17-2003, 03:13 PM

You will need a 3rd party software like ZLauncher to do so if you were going to try this experiment.

KlieKat

01-11-2005, 04:47 PM

Have you tried this experiment? Borrow the Sound Utility from the TG50 and see if it answers your questions? I found that it seemed to work. It's just a thought... though not a great one.

If you still have your TG50 couldn't you theoretically e-mail the Sound Utility program to someone? They could then install it on their TJ37 and get nicer sounding Midi alarms than they currently have?

Keeptfaith@yahoo.com

cliefan7

01-12-2005, 11:48 AM

Please excuse the noobness of this question but how does one change the alarm sound on a J37. Preferences>General only lets me set it to low/medium/high/off. Or is there only one alarm sound and that is the topic of this thread?

spygrad2003

01-12-2005, 07:04 PM

I have a TJ37, and I use Agendus, and when i set an alarm it only gives me the really crappy alarms, it won't give me the option of using the built-in polyphonic alarms? why is that?

KlieKat

01-13-2005, 11:47 AM

You have to go to the Preferences menu within the Datebook application to change the alarm.

Hope this helps

spygrad2003

01-13-2005, 01:12 PM

I've tried that, it doesn't even show the polyphonic ring tones as options to choose. only the other ones.

KlieKat

01-14-2005, 02:32 PM

If you can't see the polyphonic alarms in the original Clie Datebook program (not a third party one like Datebk5 or Agendus) then it's possible that the system_ADPCM_sounds.prc file is not loaded on your Clie. Check the file manager on your Clie to make sure it is there, and if it is not, you might check your backup folder under Program Files\Sony Handheld\[username]\backup where your hotsync name is the [username], and reinstall it on your Clie.

The only other way I know of to get them back is to perform a hard reset of the Clie. Remember to perform a hotsync first to back up your information.

Trudi

01-17-2005, 06:20 AM

You can use mp3 as alarms :cool: with 2 Play Me (http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&prodid=53698), or with PalmaryClock (http://www.palmarysoft.com/products/clock/) or with LightWav (http://www.toysoft.ca/lightwav.html), but LightWav asks for PocketTunes (http://www.pocket-tunes.com/). :rolleyes:

spygrad2003

01-17-2005, 03:39 PM

The alarms are there in the built in date book. i'm no novice to pda computing, so i've looked to make sure. all the non-polyphonic alarms are available in agendus, but not the polyphonic ones

driftology

01-17-2005, 11:27 PM

i installed clie organizer and i have better alarms now.

KlieKat

01-18-2005, 08:01 PM

The alarms are there in the built in date book. i'm no novice to pda computing, so i've looked to make sure. all the non-polyphonic alarms are available in agendus, but not the polyphonic ones
I've gone to the Agendus forums and found out that it appears that Agendus doesn't support the three polyphonic sounds that are part of the System_ADPCM_sounds file. Maybe it will be a feature in the future.

cliefan7

01-19-2005, 10:03 AM

You have to go to the Preferences menu within the Datebook application to change the alarm.

Hope this helps

:) Worked like a charm. Thanks KlieKat.

none

01-19-2005, 03:53 PM