What Ever Happened To Tkc? Options

[harvell]

I remember they used to come out with software periodically for the 5500. However with the clamshell models especially the CXXXX series I haven't heard much from them. Any one know anything? I felt like they stimulated the market here and there.

[nilch]

I remember they used to come out with software periodically for the 5500.  However with the clamshell models especially the CXXXX series I haven't heard much from them.  Any one know anything? I felt like they stimulated the market here and there.

I guess Shawn (of TKC) was very disillusioned with the way things were going for the Zaurus - lack of Sharp's support and hence no increasing market from which to make a profit off. Also some of TKC's dealings weren't so proper - but thats a debate, not a fact of life.

He moved on to developing the same apps (rather porting) to the newer Linux platforms like Archos and then ultimately I think into his passion - music and now develops some music platform based on open source or something like that - not too really sure - read an interview quite some time back.

Its sad actually that the ecosystem around the Zaurus could not support any propriatary developers, and does support very less open source developers these days.

[dougeeebear]

I'm using tkcExplorer for Cxxx/6000 on my C1000 and it works very well.
I particularly like the Trash Bin feature (which is like the Recycle Bin on windoze).
I wasn't too happy about paying for it a second time, but the SL-5500 version wouldn't work on the C1000.

I like Tree Explorer better for everything else.

[HoloVector]

Thanks, for the quick review. I bought a copy of Tree!Explorer+ and was thinking of picking up tkcExplorer as well but it doesn't seem that compelling anymore.

It is too bad about tkc. They have some really compelling titles but, some were never converting to the C-series and others are half converted (like tkcAddressBook, tkcCalandar and tkcToDo) since their promised sync features were never realized.

I would have loved to have seen tkcZip expanded to cover, tar, gz, and rar, too.

[dougeeebear]

Also their support forum is a total flop (and not even available anymore).

[rebski]

IMHO tkc did a fantastic job for the Zaurus community. This particular forum has been very self indulgent in slagging them off, mostly unfairly too.

I started off with a SL5500 and now have a C-1000 and have re-purchased where available all my apps. Particular favourites being Expense, Card, Player, ToDo, Address, Explorer, Shopper and BackUp.

It saddens me that Video and Mail are not supported on the clamshell, but then it is hard to blame Shawn for this, the Zaurus is dead and he just saw it coming sooner than the rest of us.

[dougeeebear]

I started off with a SL5500 and now have a C-1000
...
the Zaurus is dead

Huh ????

[HoloVector]

If Sharp is still actively selling the Zaurus then it is most certainly not dead.

***SOAP BOX MODE ON***

Even the day that Sharp completely pulls the plug on the Zaurus line it will not die unless this community and others like it will let it die.

The Zaurus is one of those rare products that has dedicated communities behind it that strive to push it past the pigeon-holed niche that Sharp has decided to stuff it into. I consider myself honoured to be a part such a great and helpful community like this one. Thank you.

***SOAP BOX MODE OFF***

Although, I am too new to know the complete history of what happened between the Zaurus user community and tkc; I will say that the tkc software that I purchased so far are some of my favorite titles on my Z.

[cycle_55]

I would have to agree with HoloVector, what I use my Z for today would still apply ten years from now and so unless I or my needs change, my Z will not die any time soon. I hope this community will continue to keep this great little machine alive. I will do as much as I can to help.

cycle_55

[Antikx]

My transition was "don't get me talking about my old school computers" -> Tandy Model 10X -> Palm -> Sharp Zaurus
I spend a couple years in the Tandy portable computers community. It's a piece of hardware that's long "dead", but you would never know it by the community.
My 2 cents. *shrug*

[speculatrix]

Its sad actually that the ecosystem around the Zaurus could not support any propriatary developers, and does support very less open source developers these days.

http://www.softmaker.com/english/

[nilch]

Its sad actually that the ecosystem around the Zaurus could not support any propriatary developers, and does support very less open source developers these days.

http://www.softmaker.com/english/

One swallow does not a summer make ..

I understand your point that there are developers (both categories) but my point is not about the presence of developers (proprietary and open source) but rather about approaching the critical point where the ecosystem can be fuelled further by the presence of sufficient existing developers. Right now, I feel that we are way below that critical point.

And about TKC, they were lambasted and even called unscroupulous too, because thet were charging for the same apps for different machines (5500 series and the SL series). Sometimes even I felt that was not fair - particularly for such simple apps like AddressBook and Calendar, but again they were in the business of making some money off the development effort and a new hardware (with reals estate screen changes and processor changes) did warrant a new app which we had to pay for. Objectively looking, it wasn't that unfair really.

[koen]

Its sad actually that the ecosystem around the Zaurus could not support any propriatary developers, and does support very less open source developers these days.

http://www.softmaker.com/english/

One swallow does not a summer make ..

I understand your point that there are developers (both categories) but my point is not about the presence of developers (proprietary and open source) but rather about approaching the critical point where the ecosystem can be fuelled further by the presence of sufficient existing developers. Right now, I feel that we are way below that critical point.

I think 'zaurus' is the keyword here. Development would be a lot more sustainable if people would stop hardcoding things for a specific machine(qvga zaurus) or obsolete framework (qt/e 2.x). I bet x11 or qtopia4 would lure more people into development, since people could use the same app on their desktop/laptop/whatever with small modifications.

Just look at what serge is doing with maemo-mplayer: pushing patches upstream and seeking help from other developers (the OE people in #oe) to test them. That is *much* better than things like mplayer-atty, which is a bunch of japanese guys locked in a room being incommunicado.

[Meanie]

Its sad actually that the ecosystem around the Zaurus could not support any propriatary developers, and does support very less open source developers these days.

http://www.softmaker.com/english/

One swallow does not a summer make ..

I understand your point that there are developers (both categories) but my point is not about the presence of developers (proprietary and open source) but rather about approaching the critical point where the ecosystem can be fuelled further by the presence of sufficient existing developers. Right now, I feel that we are way below that critical point.

I think 'zaurus' is the keyword here. Development would be a lot more sustainable if people would stop hardcoding things for a specific machine(qvga zaurus) or obsolete framework (qt/e 2.x). I bet x11 or qtopia4 would lure more people into development, since people could use the same app on their desktop/laptop/whatever with small modifications.

Just look at what serge is doing with maemo-mplayer: pushing patches upstream and seeking help from other developers (the OE people in #oe) to test them. That is *much* better than things like mplayer-atty, which is a bunch of japanese guys locked in a room being incommunicado.

Actually, the Japanese people do talk, but just don't talk English. If you send them emails in Japanese, they do respond...

[speculatrix]

I think 'zaurus' is the keyword here. Development would be a lot more sustainable if people would stop hardcoding things for a specific machine(qvga zaurus) or obsolete framework (qt/e 2.x). I bet x11 or qtopia4 would lure more people into development, since people could use the same app on their desktop/laptop/whatever with small modifications.

I think it was Guylhem who commented that there was too much fragmentation of effort, there are too few devs porting/writing apps for handheld linux, and too many variants in distro.

I would like to see Z rom with qtopia4 on kernel 2.6... perhaps OZ will offer this as an alternative to Opie? Anyway, this is getting off topic.