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User Tips and Tools
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Today v2.1 (freeware) 
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=38922
One of the nice things about the Pocket PC is the today | start screen, where you sort of start off with everything in one place. If you'd like to have the same functionality on your Palm, try Today. You can select from several different items to show on the Today screen; such as Calendar, Inbox, Tasks, Owner Info, Date, System Info and more. And you can choose the order that these items are shown in. Today includes (optional to use) skin databases named DefaultSkinWithBackground.pdb and Today-PPC2002.pdb for the background graphics; or you can create your own.
Today (with PPC background)
Mike Rohde's Excellent Palm writing tools article
http://www.palmsource.com/interests/writing/
Mike, the former editor of the PalmTipSheet, has produced a definitive online reference for PalmOS writing tools.
- Word Processors
- Text Editors
- Spell Checkers
- English Dictionaries
- English Thesauri
- Word Completion Tools
- Data Input Alternatives
- Other Palm OS Writing Utilities
- Document Converters (Windows)
- Document Converters (Mac OS)
- Document Converters (Linux)
- Hardware
- eBooks
- User Stories
- Online Resources
Mike's page is simply a Very Good reference point, and a must if you use a keyboard more than a stylus with the Palm.
Team Builder v1.0 (freeware)
http://www.avaricum.net
If you have worked in the corporate world, you have likely been exposed to Myers-Briggs personality testing. Team builder provides a M-B like test for the Palm.
You are 72 short questions away from knowing your personality type -- and what portion of the population shares that type with you.
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Pocket PC User Interface Ten Commandments 
http://www.fo.com/articles/ppmag-01.htm
We now have a Pocket PC version of the PalmOS user interface article in the same theme. Geared towards helping managers who are overseeing new PPC development (or software purchases) -- these are more like guidelines of things for you to think about. Please submit your own guidelines for inclusion at the end of this article.
Need a timer? (freeware)
Here are a group of PalmOS-based ones.
http://www.palmspot.com/software/Utility/Timers/
This is a long list of PalmOS timer applications, from stop watches (some of them fairly sophisticated) through applications that log and save the times to the Palm.
Here is a Very complete stopwatch application for the Pocket PC.
StopTime 2.0 includes things like Linked Timers, so that when one is started, stopped, etc another is started (example use would be a chess game). If StopTime 2.0 doesn't do it for you, then here is a list of other PPC stopwatches (http://www.freewareppc.com/clock/clock.shtml).
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StopTime 2.0
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Want to Check your Connection Speed? 
The following sites provide online ways to find out what your dial-up (or broadband-based) connection speeds to the Internet are. Most of these tools work by downloading a set-sized file to your device; measuring the amount of time it takes to download along the way. It is probably not that surprising that the time usually reported for dial-up connections tends to be a good bit less than the modem's stated speed -- particularly during the heavy traffic times of day.
These are all similar -- and all pretty good.
Speedy v3.5 (donationware)
http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/speedy.shtml
In keeping with the “timing theme” of the last several tools -- Speedy is used to show benchmark times on PalmOS devices. Speedy reports both a CPU frequency and a relative index (100% is for the Palm Vx at 20 MHz) and includes the ability to save your benchmarks. There are a couple of utilities in the package, and it's worth the download. Developer note: The Pascal source of the timing calcs is included.
 
Speedy
Palm PDA Mailing list
The largest and one of the first PalmOS user mailing lists has gone through a move and reset-up phase. This is the place to discuss Palm device user topics. To subscribe or unsubscribe via the web, visit
http://copilotconsulting.com/mailman/listinfo/palm
or send an email with a subject or body containing 'help' to
palm-request@copilotconsulting.com. The archives of the list are available on this page as well.
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Development Tips and Tools
(Sites with content most valuable to developers)
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Palm Database ODBC Driver v0.01 (freeware But Beta)
http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/freepalmdatabaseodbcdriver.shtml
A PDB ODBC driver (sans converters, activex, DLLs and other tools) which can be used to use native database access methods.
Tauschke MobileCreator v1.74 (freeware and professional versions)
http://www.tauschke.com/
MobileCreator is cross-platform SuperWaba IDE.
Just as a reminder, here is SuperWaba v4.21b (a Java Virtual machine that runs on PalmOS -- with a site for PPC, WinCE and even AppletViewer versions). http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/superwaba.shtml
A few things Symbian
Rafe Blandford's All About Symbian Site
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com
Community Site for Series 60 (Nokia 7650, 3650, N-Gage), UIQ (Sony Ericsson P800) and Symbian Users, with heavy coverage of Symbian phone news. Many links, many downloads and a lot of info.
OPL language source code
http://opl-dev.sourceforge.net/
Symbian's OPL is an interpreted language for phones. OPL v6.0 and v6.1 are available as open source. OPL includes the runtime environment for the phone, the translator, tools to run on a PC, comprehensive OPL example and OPX extensions written in C++.
WiKi
http://www.allaboutopl.com/wiki/OPLWikiHome
The place to find [and share] information on all things “OPL. FAQs, development tips, white papers, manuals, etc.
Symbian's own site
http://www.symbian.com
Perl for Symbian phones
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/16/nokia_to_release_perl/
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FO News
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FO has added Symbian consulting to our list of "doables" in the PDA realm. This includes both Series 60 and UIQ low level software development and tools.
As a way of describing our Symbian capabilities, we've created a free downloadable brochure that you can try. This brochure; our service to create the same thing for you; and our development toolset to handle the beaming of the brochure are described below.
foBrochure |
foBrochure/Series 60 is a version of our PalmOS brochure application, released on the Symbian platform.
To get an idea of how this works, you can download our free Symbian FO brochure by browsing to the following page from your phone http://www.fo.com/files/fobrochure.sis
Our brochure contains 256 graphics, "keyable" menus, pick-lists; and [optionally] uses the entire Symbian screen. Of course, foBrochure can be beamed to other Symbian Series 60 phones via IrDA and Bluetooth.
You can choose to include the Navi Tab, CBA buttons and Status pane lines in the brochure applications that you create, if you wish.
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Symbeam™ is a new toolset to provide beaming components to higher level Symbian applications. Symbeam is what foBrochure uses to beam itself between phones.
Symbeam provides both "light" beaming -- where textual information is sent to the recipient phone or "heavy" beaming, which includes beaming your entire application to another phone. Symbeam supports beaming via Bluetooth, IrDA and any other protocols that support attachments big
enough to send the
application, such as e-mail or MMS.
Excellent for brochure applications; games; sales & marketing tools; or just being able to easily share your application with others.
Symbeam creates an installation file on-the-fly, directly on the phone itself, as part of the beaming process.
Requirements: a Symbian Series 60 phone to send and receive.
Development platform: Any Symbian
C++ development environment
(Microsoft Visual C++, Metrowerks CW, Borland
Builder).
Languages supported: C++
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Symbeam™
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Future Symbian platform support will include UIQ.
Contact us for additional Symbeam information and pricing.
http://www.fo.com/pda/fosymbeam.htm
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Product Reviews
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Pegasus III IrDA Wireless Modem
Facts about the Pegasus III
The Pegasus III infrared modem is a v.90 modem.
Dimensions: 2.5" x 3.75" x 0.83".
Weight: 7.35 oz.
100V-240V travel charger.
Dual operating modes: Infrared or serial RS-232.
Works with Palm Pilot, Macs, PCs, Notebooks.
Compliant with IrDA 1.0 standard for serial infrared
(SIR) data comm.
Link Distance 1 cm to 1.0 m (about 4-5 feet).
Company: 3jTech US Distributor: enrtech
Complete specs:
http://www.3jtech.com.tw/infrared_modems.htm
List Price: Varies: $99USD
Things We Love
- We love the way the plug comes apart. Finding a place to pack a plug is one of the most annoying things -- and becomes even more annoying as devices themselves become smaller and smaller. A small plug (and cool ideas like the removable prongs) are a good thing.
Things we Like
- We like the fact that it does IR and
direct Serial. If it did
Bluetooth -- then we would Love this device.
- We like the fact that all required cords/cables
were included in the package.
- We like that it worked without having to
install anything to the PDA.
Things we Don't Like
- It did not fully connect with a Zire 72, hanging after the initial modem connect sequence.
But it Did work with a Palm VIIx! (editor's note: 3jtech has provided an update for the Zire/Tungsten line, to correct the problems that we found with those devices).
- The phone cord provided (which is nice
to do) is a standard short cord. A double
length or triple length cord would be
inexpensive; fit within the current packaging
and be very useful in places like hotel rooms,
where the table/bed may not be a short cord
away from the phone jack.
- This is insignificant -- but the color/texture
of the case. It looks like a 1950's robot.
Things we Hate
- Our test modem had to be turned on with a small
flat switch -- and it turned itself off automatically after a period of inactivity,
even when powered via A/C. We (can almost) see
the value of it turning itself off automatically when powered
by batteries, but when using A/C and doing a lot of
connecting/disconnecting via the PDA -- then this got annoying.
(editor's note: This can be controlled by an AT command.
To Disable power-down mode, using Terminal:
1. Issue: “ATS63.1=1”.
2. Issue: “AT&W”.
3. Issue: “ATZ”.
4. Reset Modem)
Summary
If you'd like a handy, relatively inexpensive, IrDA modem that fits well within a small carry case, take a look at the Pegasus III. If you'd prefer a Bluetooth version -- they will have one in the December 2004 timeframe.
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FX100 Roll-up Keyboard
Facts about the FX100
The FX100 is a roll-up keyboard, available for many versions of the PPC and PalmOS.
This is a rugged, silicone keyboard, that withstands moisture and dirt.
Size: 5/32" x 3 5/16" x 9 13/16"
Weight: 2.4 ounces.
Power consumption: 1mA (max)
Operating temperature: -10 to 50 degrees C
Company: Flexis Corp US Distributor: man-machine.com
Complete specs: http://www.man-machine.com/FX100.htm
List Price: Varies: Around $60USD
Things We Love
- Again, another accessory with size and packing space in mind. PDAs are meant to be portable -- and, having highly-portable accessories to tote around with them is a very good thing. This rolling keyboard fits into those corners of a small case and is fun to have.
- The keys have a nice tactile feel to them -- not what you'd expect from a a silicone keyboard.
- Highly useful in construction or manufacturing applications.
Things we Like
- The fact that it fits in a pretty small space.
- That there are PalmOS, Rim, Kyocera Smartphones, Pocket PC and even a Sharp Zaurus version.
- The black version -- which just looks cool.
Things we Don't Like
- There is no PDA stand -- the PDA will lay flat or you need to prop it up, which is difficult because the keyboard connects to the bottom of the PDA.
- One could imagine letting it drape across your legs
on a plane or seat to work -- but it has to lay flat to use it. This isn't that big of an issue though.
Things we Hate
Summary
A neat, relatively inexpensive accessory, for limited keyboarding on the road.
See also, the FXCube (Bluetooth roll-up Keyboard)
http://www.flexis.co.kr/web/fxcubebt.htm
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Subscribe, Unsubscribe & Comments
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