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| FO HANDHELD NEWS
Volume 2, Issue 3
November 17th, 2001
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Contents
Welcome
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Welcome to FO's
4th quarter newsletter!
We have a new tool to announce, foSync. This tool provides an internet "tunnel" for corporate accounts, wishing to create a Virtual Private network (VPN) for their modem-equipped PalmOS device users.
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Continuing with our 2001 handheld initiatives; FO is now an authorized Handspring and Handera reseller.
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As always, please feel free to submit requests or ideas through the links
at the bottom of this page -- where you will also find
subscription and removal information.
Thank you,
Bill Shadish, Principal
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User Tips
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Hardware
For an edgy Palm hardware site (if there can be such a thing as an "edgy" Palm hardware site...) have a look at the Hardware 'n' Stuff pages(http://www.massena.com/darrin/pilot/luiz/hardware.htm). This is a page on tweaking the hardware itself, with topics ranging from:
- How to Open (Voiding Warranty)
- Don't Do This
- My Conventions
- The Cradle
- The Memory
- Communications
- Power Supply
- Main CPU
- and so on...
Although somewhat dated -- the material on this site is rarely covered in other places. There's enough here for you to get into trouble with, if you wanted to.
Note: Please do not dismember PDAs running FO software that is still under support. 
The Gadgeteer
(http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/palmos.html)
is simply a GREAT Palm reference for users. There are reviews of units here (including Sony, Kyocera, Handera, as well as Palm devices). There is also a vast amount of information on Palm cases (hard & soft); and add-on devices (from the various keyboards, to add-in memory cards.)
The site is rounded out with a huge list of online news references, publications, locations of Palm users groups and more. This is a must click site.
Direct Install, Rob's Software
http://www.rob.cybercomm.nl/palm/index.html
If you hate having to go through the INSTALLAPP rigamorole in order to install a new Palm application -- try DirectInstall.
 Figure 1 -- Direct Install
What this free utility does, is allow you to right-click on any Windows explorer file (or multiple files) and send the file(s) directly to the Palm install queue. If you have more than one Palm user ID set up on a given PC -- you can even select the desired user who will get the files.
Are you using a Wireless PDA?
If so -- here are some sites that will be of interest to you.
The (unofficial) Wireless FAQ for PalmOS(R)
(http://palmwireless.cjb.net/)
contains a great deal of information about the Palm VII, different wireless plan options and sites to visit. Everything from Palm.Net proxy settings to a variety of free and packaged browsers are discussed. Note: The following mirror of the site bypasses annoying pop-ups (http://www.users.qwest.net/~johnbartley/palm7faq.htm).
DPWeb - (http://www.digitalpaths.com/prodserv/dpwebdx.htm)
is a useful (and free) full WAP browser for the Palm VII, the Kyocera Smartphone, and Palm devices with Palm's Mobile Internet Kit.
Figure 2 -- DPWeb WAP browser
The Unofficial Kyocera Smartphone page (http://www.qcp6035.com/) contains tips and tricks for using the PalmOS-based SmartPhone. There is a discussion board on this site where you can ask questions about the SmartPhone and related tools.
Finally, here is the list of all things web clippable, from Palm's site:
(http://www.palm.com/wireless/apps/index.html)
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Development Tips
Sites with Real Content for Developers
New Palm Tools
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During November we announced foSync;
a Virtual Private Network toolset for the Palm-pilot. Originally designed for the
U.S. Military, foSync comes in two pieces. First there is a Windows hosted server component, called foSync/Server, which provides session-pooling and control for hundreds of dial-in clients. The server accepts secure connections from the second component, foSync/Palm. foSync/Palm can be loaded onto any PalmOS 3.1+ device that has a modem attached.
Figure 4 - The palm foSync application focuses on ease of use.
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The synchronization provided includes email and calendaring. Optional developer-specific conduits can be run during the synchronization, to pass application-specific pieces of data, as well as entire files (either way). foSync can be used to update entire applications in the field -- without doing a full-blown hotsync to do so.
See our foSync web
page for more information on this tool.
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Related Events
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Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization conference
We will be speaking in two sessions at the upcoming 2001 DOE National Weatherization Training Conference in Atlanta, November 27th to the 29th. We will be discussing ways to improve building auditing -- using both handheld tools and phones.
See this site for more information:
(http://www.waptac-pic.org/More/2001conference.htm).
Hardware Resellers
As mentioned above, we are now authorized resellers of Palm, Handspring and Handera hardware devices. We are also partners with Pumatech, selling Satellite Forms, Enterprise Intellisync products and integrated solutions using these tools.
If you would like specific pricing on any of these items, please contact us.
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Affiliates
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This section continues our process of highlighting one of our partnering-program affiliates. We believe that you will find the skills and services offered by our select partners to be of as much value to you, as they are to us.
The second FO affliate to be covered is Intent.Net, a large, Southern USA-based Internet Service Provider (ISP). They were added as a FO partner in September 2001.
Figure 5 - Intent.Net
Intent.Net
http://www.intent.net
"Intent.Net partnered with Fundamental Objects, spurred by client requests for mobile handheld applications. Our growing relationship began with contracts to enhance client scheduling systems, for use with Exchange Server and handhelds. We have jointly evolved a VPN product called foSync, which will become a flagship product for both FO and Intent.Net. foSync provides off-site, co-located VPN systems for corporations -- with synchronization accounts hosted by Intent.Net", said Rick Hogue, President of Intent.Net.
"Intent.Net has been working with organizations since 1997; helping to solve mission critical issues -- issues requiring the interaction of mobile and office environment staff for companies globally. In addition, Intent.Net offers hosting and interactive web development to companies and organizations."
"We look forward to evolving our relationship with Fundamental Objects to provide a complete solution set for our mutual clients."
Rick Hogue
More information about the FO partnering program can be found at http://www.fo.com/partnering-info.htm.
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Subscribe, Unsubscribe & Comments
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