TamsPalm - the Palm OS Blog

Palm OS news and opinion source

December 31st, 2007

Rumor: Pink Palm Centro on the way

Users of the SprintUsers.com forum have recently begun to debate about a pale pink Palm Centro that is due to hit shelves on the 13/1/2008. The following rendered has been posted in order to show what pale pink means:

Other users have claimed that their Sprint representatives told them that customers calling in will be able to order the machine on the 6th; and that an SKU(Sprint device number) for the machine is already in the system.

As of now, there are no real spy shots or other confirmations; so please take this with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, I consider it highly possible that we will see a pink Centro soon - Palm would be too dumb to miss out on this opportunity…

P.S. This is about a CDMA version of the machine. Leaked photos of the GSM Centro have shown it to be white; and to run on the french Orange network…

December 30th, 2007

WordPress updated

Dear Readers,
this is a quick ping to inform you that we have performed a network-wide update of our content management software. TamsPalm, TamsPPC and TamsS60 are now powered by WordPress 2.3.2.

These updates are necessary in order to keep the content network secure, as each new release fixed security problems found in the last.

As always, please leave a comment or send an email to Tamog@gmx.at if you have any issues!

Sorry for any inconveniences
Tam Hanna

December 30th, 2007

TamsPalm on an iPhone

safari_tp.JPGAt a store of the German phone provider “Telekom” I could test the iPhone’s Safari browser today and was surprised about it . So I shoot a photo of it displaying TamsPalm.

I already knew that the iPhone’s browser must be very good. Safari is Apple’s standard desktop web browser (and based on WebKit/KHTML/Konqueror). Palm users still have no similar browsers for their PDAs and phones (although PicselBrowser displays this site in a similar way). But this could change in 2008 as Donald Kirker announces the next version of Universe, his Palm browser. Even his old beta versions, which use his own engine, were popular. The new version will have a new UI and also use the WebKit engine.

December 28th, 2007

Prosit Neujahr - have a great New Year’s Eve with Tamoggemon

2007 was a eventful year for all of us following the mobile computing market - both users and developers faced many new opportunities and challenges. Apple will soon make mobile applications a “commodity” with its ixxx devices; Nokia’s Touch and Motorola’s Z series have put motion into the entrenched war between S60 and UIQ.

At Tamoggemon’s; 2007 was the year of expansion. Pocket PC and Series 60 news services were launched in order to bring our quality content to more people around the world; and new applications were launched.

Nothing is better suited to celebrate success than a nice bunch of software discounts - here’s the list of what’s up for grabs:

BallZ
Tamoggemon BallZ brings the JezzBall fun to your Palm - 30 colorful levels await you!

Use the discount code MERRYTAMOG to get 50% off the list price of 14.95$ in the TamsShop!

Binary Clock
Binary Clock - the number one Binary Clock for Palm OS. It supports FontBucket for TrueType font display and can also be used as WristPDA watchface!

Use the discount code MERRYTAMOG to get 50% off the list price of 9.95$ in the TamsShop!

Daily Quote
Daily Quote - the quote manager for Palm OS. Integrate quote tickers into ZLauncher and 2Day; have your handheld display a quote whenever it boots up; or just use it as a quote database to keep your favorite quotes or bible verses on you wherever you go. Version 3.1 of the app comes with lovely christmas and New Year’s Eve quotes….

Use the discount code MERRYTAMOG to get 50% off the list price of 9.95$ in the TamsShop!

FileFind
FileFind - the best file finder for Palm OS. If there is a file hiding on your memory card, FileFind will find it for sure. Lost that audio recording from an important meeting(or that cool jpg file) - let FileFind do the searching for you!

Use the discount code MERRYTAMOG to get 50% off the list price of 9.95$ in the TamsShop!

TamsShop-wide discount
The code MERRYNEWSOFTWARE gives you 20% off all Palm OS, Symbian and Pocket PC Software in the TamsShop!

Feel free to get yourself or a friend a gift or two…

Last but not least, please stay with us in 2008! We are always busily at work in order to offer you new news services, analysts and applications - stay tuned for announcements soon! Have a nice New Year’s Eve; and stay with us!

All discounts valid until the 6/1/2008. Image provided by wikipedia!

December 26th, 2007

IDGuard version 1.01 released

Jan Slodicka from Resco has just informed us about an update to IDGuard, the best Palm OS password manager:

Thanks to all who did try our first Beta and posted their comments.

By this time we hoped to have the final version.
Nevertheless, v1.01 is still Beta, but pretty close to the final release.

The news:

It is possible to record audio and attach it to the record.
(Interface: Record editor, menu option ‘Record Audio’)
Voice recording is available on
(+) Treo - all models, Centro, LD, C, Zire 72, T3
(?) T5, TX need an external microphone
Voice recording is not available on
(-) Z22, E, E2, Zire 31
Audio attachments can be replayed with the IDGuard built-in recorder.

Records can have reminders consisting of a short text and date/time when the user needs to be reminded.
(Interface: Record editor, menu option ‘Reminder’)
Note: Reminders do not work if IDGuard is installed on the card.

Attachment launching:
Support for Eudora and Universe 3 web browsers

List view: Sort by icon possible

Xml export includes attachments and can be used for data exchange

SplashID 3 - DB import supported (incl. notes and partial icon mapping)

Data types in the record template:
E.g. if you specify the type “Phone Number”, the first tap on the field will open the phone lookup in the address book.

Plus lot of small details.

Any comments are welcome.

Merry Christmas.

TamsPalm has posted an exclusive (p)review of this application some time ago - get the full scoop here.

December 25th, 2007

It’s time for presents! SplashShopper reviewed

SplashData has written some pretty cool apps before (some scoring rave reviews on TamsPalm in the past: SplashNotes, SplashID and SplashMoney) but I think I’ve found my favorite.

SplashShopper is a list manager on steroids. SplashShopper, unlike other shopping list managers around, allows you to keep multiple lists, say a weekly shopping list, a birthday wish list, and a family Christmas list. Each list can have a number of items from multiple stores, and the list can be sorted by treating the stores as categories:

The application allows you to create lists that can be reused over and over again, using a template function called QuickList. QuickList allows you to define certain lists as templates that can be created on a moments notice. So if, for example, you always get milk, eggs and butter on your shopping trips, but always managed to forget at least one, you’d simply create your QuickList before you go shopping and not need to worry about forgetting them.

By clicking on the icon of an item, you can mark the item as Unneeded and easily continue shopping. By switching to the ‘needed’ tab, you can easily see what you still need to shop for and you are given a checkbox to mark the item as unneeded, which seems more intuitive than clicking the icon in the ‘all’ tab.

A cool feature of SplashShopper is the ability to assign multiple stores — or whatever you’ve defined your first category to be — to each item.

Choosing -MULTIPLE- allows you to select any stores you wish, up to eight.

To make a Treo user’s life much easier, SplashShopper has a feature called ‘No stylus mode.’ This mode, as it implies, replaces the stylus’s use with the hardkeys, allowing easy navigation of your shopping lists. The only downside to this mode is that it effectively locks you into the application by not allowing you to use your hardkeys to exit the application.

Altogether, SplashShopper is a wonderful application for anyone from a stay at home mom, to a busy businessman. The ease in creating lists and adding items is only trumped by the ease of viewing the list you’ve created. If you’ve ever had to go back to a store multiple times to get toiletries or food that you’ve forgotten (I know I have) this application is a must have.

There is even a desktop syncronisation tool that, which though I couldn’t use (My hotsync is badly borken on Vista) looked like a great way to create your lists and easily sync them to your device. You can easily import and export to and from your favorite formats to make the switch even easier. SplashShopper import/export supports cvs, and various HandShopper formats. It can also Import files from PDA Cookbook, perhaps one of the coolest features.

And even better! To celebrate the holidays, you can purchase SplashShopper at the TamsShop for 20% off by entering the discount code “SPLASHCHEAPLY”at the checkout screen. This discount is only available until the end of January so urry up!

December 25th, 2007

Leopard compatibility added to The Missing Sync for Palm OS

Mark/Space has just informed us that The Missing Sync for Palm OS now supports Mac OS Leopard and the Palm Centro.

Customers who currently own version 6.x.x of the product can update to v6.0.2 for free; owners of other versions of Missing Sync may check this web site to find out if they can upgrade for free or must pay $24.95 for the update.

Unfortunately, Mark/Space had to remove the “card reader” functionality from the latest version according to this page, as it is no longer possible to do something like that in Mac OS Leopard.

Last but not least, here is the original announcement:

Version 6.0.2 includes updates that improve the functionality of The Missing Sync for Palm OS when used with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. And, whether you are using Leopard or Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger, version 6.0.2 also provides a number contact and calendar synchronization enhancements and support for the Palm Centro.

We have now delivered Leopard-compatible updates for all versions of The Missing Sync, well ahead of the projected 90-day estimate.

All Leopard-compatible Missing Sync updates are available as free downloads for customers of our most current versions. Upgrades from previous versions and other qualifying Mark/Space products are $24.95. To get an update, either select the Check for Update command from the Missing Sync menu in the application or visit http://www.markspace.com/downloads.html, where you will also find links to release notes and Leopard usage known issues.

December 25th, 2007

Christmas and new year’s eve quotes galore – Daily Quote 3.1 released

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukka’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukka!’ or (to the atheists) ‘Look out for the wall!’” - Dave Barry “Christmas Shopping: A Survivor’s Guide”

Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to. - Bill Vaughan

Did the quotes above make you giggle? Are you starting to grow tired of all the new year’s eve/Christmas crap? We think we have an answer here….

Tamoggemon Software has just announced an update to Daily Quote, its award-winning quote manager for Palm OS. Daily Quote 3.1 improves the following aspects of the program:

ZLauncher plug-in
This plug-in has received enhancements improving text clarity significantly on HiRes and HiRes+ devices. A newly-added turbo mode allows quote scrolling speed to be adjusted over an even wider range!

New quote databases
Additionally, version 3.1 ships with two database files containing quotes about Christmas and New Year’s Eve. These databases can be installed onto your handheld/smartphone; and provide approximately 100 entertaining quotes that make the horrors of Christmas much more bearable!

Combined with our existing features like 2day integration and quote databases that can be edited on the go, Daily Quote remains the most comprehensive quote management/display solution for Palm OS!

A 14day evaluation version is available for free from http://www.tamoggemon.com/pdq/download.php; existing customers get a free upgrade under Tamoggemon’s free-update policy. The full version costs 9.95$ and can be purchased from MobiHand!

December 24th, 2007

Launcher Review Series - Introduction

One of the most popular replacement software items people get for their Palm OS device, is a replacement launcher. But the real problem is which one do you get? I mean, there are so many options, each one offering different functionality, different features, ect., it is often hard to choose. This is why we are going to be reviewing some of the more popular launchers, giving you our opinions, and just try to make finding the launcher to fit your needs easier. The first launcher we will be reviewing is Propel - so stay tuned!

December 24th, 2007

LineRider Mobile - the famous online game for your palm

Though the concept is simple - the game became an internet phenomenon: LineRider (PC version for playing online visit www.linerider.com).
With a simple drawing tool the player draws lines, creates ramps, hills etc. in order to create a track on which a sledge will run - until it crashes.
Now this game is available for PalmOS, too.

On the main screen you have the possibility to choose between the game modes “Create Track” and “Puzzle” mode, you can connect to the internet for sharing your tracks, open a help screen and access the settings.

In “Create Mode” you can design your own tracks without limitations. In the design window you can find a toolbar at the top of the screen with the following elements (from left to right):
Undo - Drawing Tools - Line Tools - Erase - Zoom - Hand - Play.
At the bottom you can see how many lines are used in the current track. Via “Menu” you can open a menu for saving, loading, deleting etc.

Drawing Tools:
Here you have the possibility to choose between straight line, freehand and curve. In straight line mode you can draw a line by selecting start and ending point - LineRider draws a line between the two points automatically.

Freehand:
This mode allows you to draw a line right how your stylus moves.
Curve:
In curve mode you can click a straight line and it will automatically deform.

LineTools:
Via LineTools you can define how your lines behave:

Normal:
This line has no influence on the sledge.

Acceleration:
This line accelerates the sledge to the right side of the screen.

Reverse Acceleration:
When the sledge comes on this line it will accelerate into the other direction (left side of the screen).

Deceleration:
The sledge gets slower here

Finish Line:
This line slows the sledge down very fast.

In addition there are several other line types which are only for cosmetic purpose:
You can draw lines which do not affect the sledge. They can be placed behind or before the regular track lines. But there are special lines which can be placed on the track so that the sledge can crash into them and destroy them.

All lines are displayed in an other color so that one can identify them easily.

If a line is misplaced you can remove it by using the rubber.

-

By pressing “Play” the sledge starts to move and to solve the track. Now you can see if your track is ‘good’ - the the sledge will pass it without crashing - otherwise you should correct the track :-).

This was the ‘freestyle game mode’.

In puzzle mode you will get a track which is not completed. You now have to add lines in order to make the track playable. In addition you can find red flags which all have to be destroyed by the sledge.

These game modes are available in offline mode.
But LineRider has got an online mode, too.
You can access it by tapping on “Shared Tracks” in main menu. After getting online you have the ability to publish your own tracks and to download other ones tracks which were published by them.

You even can rate online tracks.

I’ve tried the game on a Palm TX: it runs quite good. The game is stable - I experienced no crashes or similar. You can really get addicted by it.
Anyways I found two things which are disturbing the good image of the game:
At first, the game only runs in 320*320 resolution mode on a 320*480 display. The missing space could be very useful for the track designer window.
The second thing is the processor speed: I had to overclock the CPU up to 520 MHz until the game stopped lagging but it is playable without modification, too.

You can try LineRider yourself - a demonstration is available via clickgamer.com.
The full version costs 10,21 € ($14.95).

Download and buy via clickgamer.com:
http://clickgamer.com/moreinfo.htm?pid=14559&section=PALM

PS: Merry Christmas! :)

December 24th, 2007

Ultimate T|X Hardware Hacking Guide — Part I — Case Mods

Foreward — This is just a guide containing a few hardware mods I’ve seen done over time. I’ve talked with the folks who’ve originally done these mods for more info than their original posts, so hopefully I don’t cause too much chaos ;-)

This one focuses on the modifications that can be done to the official Palm hardcase available for the T|X, T|E, T|E2 and the T|T5.

– The Magnet Mod –

My quest for the perfect hard case started in May. I was dissatisfied with the state of my T|X’s hard case, and was looking for an alternative. My main problem was that the chintzy little clasp that held the case shut had snapped loose and would not keep my T|X safe. After a bit of discussion, we decided that replacing the clasp with magnets was a viable alternative.

The first step is to drill out the holes. Since I never really figured I’d be doing this sort of post 7 months later, I have no “in progress” shots, sorry :-).

Make sure you choose magnets before you drill the holes so that you don’t end up with a big gaping hole in your case. The best thing I have learned is that if you make the hole a tad bit smaller than your magnets, then slowly file it out with anything fairly sharp (Hell, a small flat-head screwdriver works) you will have a nice snug fit that will never require reglueing.

After you drill the holes (I did four, two on each half of the case) you can drop the magnets in. The best ting to do is use a pair of tweasers and coat the magnet with gorilla glue then you simply wedge the magnets in the holes and you are done!

– Anti Rattle Mod–

“So, uh, Ryan, why do you have pieces of dish towels glued to your case?”

Good question! (I’m sorry, I know that’s bad :-) ) The case is designed just kludgingly enough so that there is a very smaller, probably less than 1mm gap between the T|X and the case lid, just enough to have it rattle around and scuff up the front of the the T|X. Jays333 originally gave me the idea to do this in the above 1src thread, however I didn’t have any of that foam lying around, so I simply cut up a dish towel.

Jays333 did a nice job on his however:

This effectively cancels out any rattling that may occur, keeping your T|X unscathed for years to come.

– Headphone Mod –

So, what else can be done to our T|X cases? Well, I have done a few other things to the case in the time I’ve owned it. When I performed the Magnet Mod I also decided to cut away a hole for the headphones so that the case would latch shut when I was listening to music, rather than mashing up my headphone jack.

The first step is to mark where you want to get the cuts. You can plug in the headphones and put the device in the case so that the headphones are where the cuts will be (at which point, you know where the cuts need to be, or you can wing it with a sharpie cap, like Chris Tengi did.

That’s all of the mods I could come up with in regards to the Palm Hardcase. Next time we will take a look at alternatives to the Palm Cradle: the design, construction and customisation of our own Cradle kit!

Also, if you try any of these mods please note that I cannot be held responsible if your case is permanently damaged! Perform these mods at your own risk! 

December 21st, 2007

MetaView’s web applications (interesting for car owners?)

MetaView, the maker of PalmPDF, has some small web applications on his homepage that can be run in a mobile web browser. He recommends both Blazer and the iPhone’s browser; I used NetFront.

Consumption Calculator

snap-c390413a.jpg

Use this to calculate the consumption of your car. You need to know the distance (km or miles) and the fuel your car used. Additionaly, it can also calculate the fuel cost. Possible currencies are € or $, but unfortunately NetFront can’t display the Euro symbol.

Blazometer - calculates your speed

snap-c3904178.jpg This tool calculates your current speed. You have to define a distance (kilometers, meters, miles or yards). As soon as you tap on “Start”, the timer in the timer field starts running. Another field shows the current quotient of your distance and time. After you have covered your distance, just tap on “Stop”.

There are also three web applications written by others which also work in Blazer (and NetFront): a world-wide Wireless LAN directory, a weather forecast and a dictionary lookup (which supports many dictionaries with, for example, medical, legal or financial terms).

This small tools are useful if you have a smartphone with a data plan and don’t want too much programs installed on your device. But I have to say that I prefer “real” applications (my Tungsten C is not always connected to the internet and has enough memory).

Do you know other good web-based tools (for Palm browsers)?

December 21st, 2007

The WristPDA SDK - download it here

According to users of the WristPDA mailing list, Fossil has recently taken the SDK for its PalmOS-based watch off line. In case anyone wants to download the WristPDA SDK, you can get it here(cached on tamoggemon.com):
http://tamoggemon.com/blog/contents/2007/December/thawpdasdk/PDA_SDK.zip

As for creating new applications for the WPDA(being completely honest) - I can not recommend this to anyone wanting to make money off his programs. The amount of active WristPDA users is getting smaller day by day; there are next to no sales anymore. On the other hand, if you just want a specific app to run on the WPDA(and get it running), please send us a press sample so that it can be reviewed.

P.s. Here’s a bit of further reading while the SDK is being downloaded:
http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2006/07/22/fossiliswristpdadevice-causes-sys-0505-01092-error-on-non-wristpda-devices/
http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2006/07/22/wristpda-button-handling-made-easy/
http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2006/07/07/wristpda-2bit-greyscale-quirk-developers-beware/

December 20th, 2007

Our M70 finally ships

In case anyone of you still recalls that we ordered a GSPDA M70 from Expansys like 2 months ago:

The company has just informed me that the machine is on its way to my house now - which is extremely bad, as I will not be there from the 24th onwards. Anyways, stay tuned for a review and for a look at how good Expansys customer care is(in terms of taking the box back)…