Various Emails

 Duncan,

We have discovered a timing issue with the TI-GRAPH LINK Serial cable for
Windows (black) and TI Connect software for Windows concerning the TI-89,
TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200 handhelds with operating system version 2.08. We
are removing the 2.08 operating system from our website and replacing it
with version 2.07 for Voyage 200 and version 2.05 for TI-89 and TI-92 Plus.
We will post a new version as soon as it becomes available.

Regards,

Yowanda Andersen

========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "Duncan Smith" <OMITTED> on 9/14/2002 9:06:11 PM ]

Why was AMS 2.08 for the 89 recalled?  Did it have anything to do with the
opinions I sent in a few days ago?

-Duncan
The Thorn In Your Side

Duncan,

Unfortunately, the information you requested on the TI-89 is strictly
proprietary, and we are not at liberty to disclose it to our retail
customers. You may try to search the internet for more information on this
topic.

If you have any further questions or comments please feel free to contact
me at your convenience.

Regards,

Mulanda Kamba

Texas Instruments
An Educational Technology Company
E-mail: REMOVED
General Information: (800) 842-2737
Technical Support: (972) 917-8324
========================== PREVIOUS REPLY ===========================

[ Mulanda Kamba on 10/01/2002 07:40:42 AM ]

Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments, an educational technology
company.

I escalated your message to my technical supervisor for his review. We will
get
back to your shortly. Please bear with us while we are working on this.

Regards,

Mulanda Kamba

Texas Instruments
An Educational Technology Company
E-mail: REMOVED
General Information: (800) 842-2737
Technical Support: (972) 917-8324

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get answers to your questions on TI products, 24/7, through our
new KnowledgeBase at http://support.education.ti.com



========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 9/22/2002 3:49:53 PM ]

I was wondering...

What is the purpose of the array of soldering pads labeled 'J3' on the
motherboard of my (hardware version 2) TI-89?

It is on the left side of the calculator, and is the perfect position for
soldering on a plug connector or something.  It has a piece of tape over
it.

Is it a future expansion port?  A ROM programming port?  A remnant of the
ViewScreen model (same motherboard)?  Or something else entirely?

Moreover, can I use it for anything?

-Duncan

Duncan,

Customers such as yourself are extremely important to us in helping to
design and evaluate our products and service. I will log this e-mail so
that the appropriate personnel in our organization can view your comments.
Maybe these will be addressed in future updates.

Regards,

Yowanda Andersen

========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 9/13/2002 6:38:20 PM ]

Ok.  Here are my comments, itemized and collated:

My thoughts about 2.08

Things left out (and are better that way):
- none

Things needed:
- A more robust var-link.
- The ability to check battery strength whenever the user wants.
- Linking (or at least chat) with non-68k calculators.
- An option (mode setting) to have alpha-lock on in a dialog box:
   a) always on
   b) whenever the app says so
   c) never on
   Many people have downloaded auto-alpha-off from ticalc.org, and the
    author is modifying it to work on 2.08.  Build it in!

Things wanted:
- An analog clock.
- User-modifiable XR strings (this is a dream more than a need).
- The user should have a choice between square and round corners on
    windows.
- The user should have the ability to change the font used in the
    system, and to create their own font.
- The user should be able to decide
- SUBDIRECTORIES!!!  The best HP calcs have this functionality, so
    why shouldn't the best TI calcs?
- File groupings.  On the TI-83+, the user can group multiple files
    into a single file, so why can't users of the TI-89?  This would
    free up handles, which is always a good thing.

Things broken:
- Ghost space.  Programs should be allowed to be larger than 24k.
    This is just irrationality on TI's part.

Good things:
- The clock

Half-formed ideas:
- The apps desktop
    It needs keyboard shortcuts to apps, i.e. [apps] [7] [1] should
     open the program editor.
    It needs smaller icons.
    It needs ability to add user programs, both assembly and basic.
   I have ceased using it, because it is altogether useless in its
    present form.
- The clock
    It should be in the status bar if the user wants it to be (i.e.
     a mode setting).
    Possibly an analog clock, also.
    It should show seconds if the user wants it to.
    How about a timer on-calc?
     10ths or 100ths of seconds?

-Duncan

>From: REMOVED
>Reply-To: REMOVED
>To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
>Subject: Re: AMS 2.08
>Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 15:08:02 -0500
>
>Duncan,
>
>Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments, an educational technology
>company.
>
>Please send your comments to us at REMOVED.
>
>Regards,
>
>Yowanda Andersen
>
>Texas Instruments
>An Educational Technology Company
>E-mail: REMOVED
>General Information: (800) 842-2737
>Technical Support: (972) 917-8324
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Get answers to your questions on TI products, 24/7, through our
>new KnowledgeBase at http://education.ti.com/support
>
>========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================
>
>[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 8/20/2002 7:32:26 PM ]
>
>I recently downloaded and installed AMS 2.08 for the TI-89.  Where should I
>send my comments about same?
>
>-Duncan

Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments, an educational technology
company.

Users of the TI-89/92 Plus can sign their applications using their
developer ID. To request a developer ID, send the following information
directly to the following support e-mail address:
ti-flashstudio-beta@list.ti.com
Please include:
- full name and e-mail address
- your handheld ID
- description of the App

If you have further questions or comments please feel free to contact me at
your convenience. Please copy this message in your response and send
directly to ti-cares@ti.com for faster service on replies.

Regards,

Mulanda Kamba

Texas Instruments
An Educational Technology Company
E-mail: ti-cares@ti.com
General Information: (800) 842-2737
Technical Support: (972) 917-8324

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Get answers to your questions on TI products, 24/7, through our
new KnowledgeBase at http://support.education.ti.com


========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 8/28/2002 5:41:10 PM ]

Why can't users of the TI-89/92+ SDK sign their apps like users of the
TI-83+ SDK can?

Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments, an educational technology
company.

Unfortunately, the information you requested on TI-83 Plus is strictly
proprietary, and we are not at liberty to disclose this information to our
retail customers. I suggest that you search the internet for more
information on this topic.

If you have further questions or comments please feel free to contact me at
your convenience. Please copy this message in your response and send
directly to ti-cares@ti.com for faster service on replies.

Regards,

Mulanda Kamba

Texas Instruments
An Educational Technology Company
E-mail: ti-cares@ti.com
General Information: (800) 842-2737
Technical Support: (972) 917-8324

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get answers to your questions on TI products, 24/7, through our
new KnowledgeBase at http://support.education.ti.com

========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 8/28/2002 5:29:20 PM ]

I would like to have detailed information on what commands I can send to
specific processor ports on the TI-83+, as well as their effects.  If you
could sent this to me, I would be glad.

Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments, an educational technology
company.

The TI-83 Plus has 24K bytes of available RAM, 160K bytes of user data
archive as storage and application space.

You can find additional information on the TI-83 Plus at
education.ti.com/us/product/tech/83p/features/features.html.

Regards,

Yowanda Andersen

Texas Instruments
An Educational Technology Company
E-mail: ti-cares@ti.com
General Information: (800) 842-2737
Technical Support: (972) 917-8324

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Get answers to your questions on TI products, 24/7, through our
new KnowledgeBase at http://education.ti.com/support

========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 8/28/2002 5:24:47 PM ]

How much RAM and FLASH does the TI-83+ have?

Thank you for your message.

Customers such as yourself are extremely important to us in helping to
design and evaluate our products and service.  We are forwarding your
suggestions to our Product Development Team for further review.

Regards,

Mulanda Kamba

Texas Instruments
An Educational Technology Company
E-mail: ti-cares@ti.com
General Information: (800) 842-2737
Technical Support: (972) 917-8324

========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================

[ "your mom" <REMOVED> on 7/30/2002 12:42:13 AM ]

I must ask:
Why not?  Some of the error messages are abstruse and overly obfuscated, a
few menus have names that _need_ changing, three status line messages don't

fit on the screen, and there are many other things that are purely of that
sort that need changing.
Is it a thing about possibly people changing messages to insult TI?  other
people?  the president?  Surely there could be no harm in a little fun?
For example, take Google.  They have many languages, including Haxor, Elmer
Fudd, Klingon, Pig Latin, etc.  THose are planty of fun.  Why not on TI?
-Duncan


>From: Mulanda Kamba <REMOVED>
>Reply-To: ti-cares@ti.com
>To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
>Subject: Re: Language localization
>Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 12:19:40 -0500
>
>
>
>Thank you for contacting Texas Instruments, an educational technology
>company.
>
>You cannot create your own language on the TI-89. You can only download
the
>languages we have already developed. These languages are located on the
>website below:
>
>http://education.ti.com/product/tech/89/apps/appslist.html
>
>  If you have further questions or comments please feel free to contact me
>at your convenience. Please copy this message in your response and send
>directly to ti-cares@ti.com for faster service on replies.
>
>Regards,
>
>Mulanda Kamba
>
>Texas Instruments
>An Educational Technology Company
>E-mail: ti-cares@ti.com
>General Information: (800) 842-2737
>Technical Support: (972) 917-8324
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Voyage to the next level in learning. Voyage beyond what you thought
>possible. Check out the new Voyage(tm) 200 from Texas Instruments,
>and start your own Voyage.
>
>
>========================= ORIGINAL MESSAGE ==========================
>
>[ "Duncan" <REMOVED> on 7/27/2002 11:54:36 PM ]
>
>How can I create my own languages for my TI-89?

Actually it is...POP e-mail is down.

> Now I see why Rusty Wagner decided to disable flash writes totally!
> (I checked, and your server isn't broken now.)
> -Duncan
> 
> 
> >From: "Your Name" <REMOVED> (Michael Vincent)
> >To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
> >Subject: Re: TI-83+ emulator
> >Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 03:33:39 +0000
> >
> >I think the best way is when there is a write to any memory area,
> >check if there's a RAM page in that area, and only allow it if so.
> >Except for flash writes of course, but those have an odd pattern. You
> >should disassemble page 1F/7Fh to see how those work.
> >
> >I don't mind answering questions so long as the answers don't exist
> >elsewhere. I think I'm also mad since my server is broken at the
> >moment, and I'm using a stupid webmail program to access my e-mail
> >instead of Outlook Express, thus I want to minimize my reply times.
> >
> > > Sorry to bother you with things that are in the guide...  Thanks anyway!
> > > Are those addresses for unreadable/unwritable memory ranges or individual
> > > memory cells?  Are those only readable or writable when PC is in ROM or
> > > something?
> > > (Don't worry, I know that ROM page 0 is unwritable)
> > > -Duncan
> > >
> > > PS:  Do you enjoy answering questions, or would you prefer that I go do my
> > > own research?
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: "Your Name" <REMOVED>
> > > >To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
> > > >Subject: Re: TI-83+ emulator
> > > >Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 00:10:00 +0000
> > > >
> > > >This is in the SDK guide...0000-3FFFh is fixed ROM page 0, 4000-7FFFh
> > > >is a ROM page, 8000h-BFFFh is a RAM page, C000-FFFFh is a RAM page
> > > >(swappable through port 5 on the SE).
> > > >
> > > >1F/7Fh isn't writeable, physically. 1E/7Eh isn't readable.
> > > >
> > > > > More questions:
> > > > > What is the first address of the ROM and the RAM, what are the sizes of
> > > > > each, and how does the memory wrap around (if at all)?
> > > > >
> > > > > Also, is there any portion of the ROM which should be prohibited from
> > > > > writing at all?  What are the addresses of those?  (Like on the 89, where
> > > > > the code for recieving and checksumming ROM updates is write protected.)
> > > > >
> > > > > Is there any memory that should be read-protected?  (wierdly enough, the
> > > > > certificate memory on the 89 is read-protected)
> > > > > -Duncan
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >From: "Your Name" <REMOVED>
> > > > > >To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
> > > > > >Subject: Re: TI-83+ emulator
> > > > > >Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 03:55:39 +0000
> > > > > >
> > > > > >That should work.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks.  I will probably have an option to adjust the interrupt rate in the
> > > > > > > final program.
> > > > > > > So the program would have to set port 14h to 1, then write to flash,
> > > > > > > otherwise throw it into the bit bucket, right?
> > > > > > > I'm the same way with info, although I often research faster than I can
> > > > > > > write into my flash.  (It would be cool to have a couple megs of flash
> > > > > > > implanted into your brain, huh?  You could use it for tests, just store the
> > > > > > > entire text + index.  Also you wouldn't need to carry around 15 lbs of
> > > > > > > redundant carbon.)
> > > > > > > -Duncan
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >From: "Your Name" <REMOVED>
> > > > > > > >To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
> > > > > > > >Subject: Re: TI-83+ emulator
> > > > > > > >Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 01:52:08 +0000
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >They control the interrupt speed, and it isn't in terms of clock
> > > > > > > >cycles but rather dependent on a capacitor. The best way probably
> > > > > > > >would be to start at 150 per second, and adjust it until the
> > > > > > > >homescreen cursor is flashing at the same rate as a real 83+ (based on
> > > > > > > >interrupts). The ON key is 0 when pressed, 1 when not. Sorry about
> > > > > > > >that. Flash protection, it'd probably be best to allow writes when
> > > > > > > >port 14h = 1 only.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Yes, it's all in my head. I have a tendency to never forget anything
> > > > > > > >that interests me.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Michael-
> > > > > > > > > Sorry about the long turnaround time.  What exactly do the lower three bits
> > > > > > > > > in the interrupt port signify, i.e. how many clock cycles should I wait
> > > > > > > > > before activating which interrupt?
> > > > > > > > > Also, which is the ON key supposed to be?  You said 0 for both up and down.
> > > > > > > > > :)
> > > > > > > > > How exactly should I handle the flash protection page?
> > > > > > > > > Thanks!
> > > > > > > > > -Duncan
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > P.S.:  Do you KNOW all this in you head?  Or do you have a file of things on
> > > > > > > > > your computer?  You could post this kind of info on your website, and that
> > > > > > > > > would be cool.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >From: "Your Name" <REMOVED>
> > > > > > > > > >To: "Duncan" <REMOVED>
> > > > > > > > > >Subject: Re: TI-83+ emulator
> > > > > > > > > >Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 13:45:38 +0000
> > > > > > > > > >MIME-Version: 1.0
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >Port 4 is the interrupt port. The lower three bits when set control
> > > > > > > > > >the interrupt speed, bit 3 is 0 if the ON key is currently depressed,
> > > > > > > > > >0 otherwise. The upper three bits are used on the SE for the crystal
> > > > > > > > > >timer interrupts.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >Port 14h is the flash protection page. It shouldn't be returning one,
> > > > > > > > > >are you sure you are checking a real calc and not what VTI >returns?
> > > > > > > > > >Remember VTI doesn't support writing to flash at all.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Thanks for your help.
> > > > > > > > > > > (I'm looking over ti83plus.cpp from VTI source code)
> > > > > > > > > > > Is port 4 the on key?  What does it return when read, and what does
> > > > > > > > > > > it do when written?
> > > > > > > > > > > Why does port 14 hex look like it returns 1 all the time?
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Thanks again!
> > > > > > > > > > > - Duncan
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >From: "Your Name" <REMOVED>
> > > > > > > > > > > >To: "your mom" <REMOVED>
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >Yes, 0. It's more of not the CPU in terms of the LCD, but the LCD is
> > > > > > > > > > > >slower than the CPU. You'll be perfectly fine to instantly update the
> > > > > > > > > > > >LCD upon an instruction, because a faster LCD driver just won't be
> > > > > > > > > > > >taken advantage of. The CPU instructions access memory, like ld
> > > > > > > > > > > >(8000h),a and such.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >Sorry, I don't know much about programming the 89.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > If you could help me with any of these questions, I would greatly appreciate
> > > > > > > > > > > > > it.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > 83+ & emulation:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > - Is the link port 0?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > - How many CPU clock cycles elapse between LCD refreshes?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > - Are memory accesses through a CPU port (mem bank 0 & 1) or through the
> > > > > > > > > > > > >   CPU's instructions for accesing memory?
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > 89 (if you wish):
> > > > > > > > > > > > > - How can I detect the ON key in a C program in as little time (cpu-wise) as
> > > > > > > > > > > > >   reasonably possible?
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks!
> > > > > > > > > > > > > - slimey _limey (Duncan Smith)