PalmAddicts

New work phone, same old SplashID

I have been using a Palm Treo 680 as my work phone for the last 5 months since I was having issues with my Samsung Blackjack, but about a month ago, I got a new Samsung Blackjack II.  I'm now using the Blackjack II as my main phone (another time about discussing Palm OS), and I realized that with all the good software to make my life better, I missed SplashID.  This program is killer when it comes to being able to store credit card info, medical information, logins and passwords, and I'm sure that if I lose the phone, no one is going to have an easy time unlocking my passwords because of the 256-bit Blowfish encryption of the databases, plus auto lockdown after 10 bad password attempts.

I was really happy to find out that there is a new verision for Windows Mobile, along with Blackberry, Symbian S60, Windows XP and Vista, OSX, and UIO!

SplashID is very cool since I can sync up the Windows desktop client and my Palm and Windows Mobile device, just by making sure the locking passwords all match.  Very simple, plus the Windows Mobile version can be synced with ActiveSync for XP users, or there is a separate sync version for Windows Vista users.

I'm grateful for the SplashID guys for making switching phones easier by providing a good program for many platforms, and hopefully an iPhone version is cooking too!

My Man Bag- Final part.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for the double posting (sorry Sammy, I know that was a bit of work to remove those.) . I had been posting from my Centro and obviously. It wasn't working so well.  Thanks for hanging in there and being patient.

Now on to more interesting news like: what I carry in my MAN BAG.

!. Asus Eee PC
2. Lacie Rugged portable harddrive
3. USB light for Keyboard
4. Sprint Palm Centro (of course)
5. Jeep Utility Knife
6. V-Moda Headphones
7. Ipod touch

My intention was to have a full office in my bag. It has come in very handy so far. I have been able to, keep a all work files on my Lacie portable harddrive and use these at work when needed.

The Foleo....... I mean Asus Eee is great. I am trying to learn how to develop for linux an prep for the new Palm OS. I can work quite well with the (Foleo) Asus and being that it is so light. I prefer it to my Macbook at times. This little guys web browser also picks up where Blazer really slacks.

I like being prepared whenever and where ever, My kit has really helped me to be more prepared in a mobile world.

Getting her out of the mall

Today I used my treo to surprise her. We ordered a case for her new digital camera from ebay and now she can't wait until it gets here. She has never used ebay so every day she has been asking me if it finally arrived and today it did while she was at the mall. So I snapped a picture of her package and sent it to her saying "Wonder what came in from Hong Kong". Just then she text me back saying she was on her way. Man if that's all it took to get her out of the mall I would have did this a long time ago.

The World is Flat

one of my favorite books on technology is THE World Is Flat by Thomas Freidman ... if you have not read it ... it is required reading and i will gtive a test at the end of next ... remember those dreaded promises of academic yesteryears ...

as i read PA i am aware that the writers from all over the world are sitting on my computer with their words ... that world is flatter and flatter every day... and it is so much fun

and this blogging from your handheld is getting to be a style that is scary to my fingers ... and i fear is showing off and i am very impressed ;-)

this whole experience of a flat world is freeing and making me want to know more from a world made with our fingers

so sammy how did you make PA the center of this flat world

A million little signals…

[From Brad Green] At what point does the proliferation of mobile technology become too much. When do we look at all the gadgets we have and think, “hmm, maybe this is all I need”? Do we really need 3 PSPs, a Palm, a Windows Mobile Device, forbid I ask…an iPhone? Not to mention all the radiation we could be exposing ourselves too (no, im not a hippy). The more we ask for mobile devices, the more mobile standards we see. Does it bother anyone that we are continually trying to invent wireless signals that can travel further, pierce walls easier, etc…what ever happened to a good old homing pigeon for wireless data transfer?

Outpatient Companion

[From Simon] Hi Sammy and all PA followers from Simon in a rainy Cardiff (UK). I've previously mentioned how using my Centro is keeping me sane fo'owing surgery on my leg that's left me fairly immobile temporarily. Today I attended my first Outpatient clinic, and herels how mt Centro came in handy. First I used ir to call the taxi to get me here. Then once there facing the inevitable wait I checked my RSS feeds (including PA of course) usinf Quicknews. In the consultation I had a load of questions for the consultant in Memo's which he thought was quite neat. On my way home I emailed my wife at work via Snapermail to let her know how things went, and once home used the Centro to update my blog on progress. Thankfully all is progressing well with the leg and I'll be off crutches in a few weeks. Meantime keep up the excellent site - itls a cracking good read!

2008 Lippincott's Nursing Drug Guide

Turns out the medical field is advancing in technology. From the clinics to the equipment, technology has taken a major leap in assisting in healthcare. It begun with computers and now has leaked into the mobile world. Now we see doctors and nurses with PDAs full of information like contacts, calendar, and email. Now technology has brought us one step closer to making nurses job a bit easier. The great people at Skyscape have brought us 2008 Lippincotts Nursing Drug Guide. The software brings complete monographs on over 800 common drugs and a 32- page full-color photo guide on tablets and capsules. • Some key features. • complete monographs on 800 common drugs • combination drugs in the appendices and a 32-page full-color photo guide to tablets and capsules • 25 appendices During our review we found the software to be great software for anyone in the nursing field. It is very precise, concise, and full of info on the clinical drugs. Currently one of the best products used in the nursing field and for nursing students. It came in very handy due to the fact that we would have to do flash card exercises and with the new software we were able to shave 4 hours of regular searching. It was convenient to have all the needed info in one location. During clinincals the quick search comes in handy to find meds and their reactions. In our opinion it’s used more than the text book and is a new best friend.

Resco Backup to the rescue

We all know there are several ways to back up our info, but are you really doing a backup? I though a back up was syncing all you contacts email and calendar but it turns out there’s more. There are things we take for granted like software installed, screen layout, favorites, and much more. To fix this problem you will need a full back up system. Resco Backup is your answer. Just imagine everything you have tweaked, adjusted, and set to get your palm just how you want then it’s gone. This can happen a number of ways like having to do a hard reset, a broken phone or a phone that will not power on anymore. If this should ever happen you can use Resco to restore you palm how it was before the tragedy. Don’t wait until something happens, give Resco Backup a try and see how it restores your palm for yourself.

Google Maps on my Treo

I remember taking trips back in the day, when we would buy a Rand McNally road atlas and have to reference it several times when going into areas that I had not traveled in before. Making sure we took the right turn-off without getting lost for hours helped make the trip smooth and stress free.

Last week, I went to Lake Tahoe for the first time. Going from Salt Lake City to Reno was easy - head out on I-80 going west. Getting to Lake Tahoe was a bit more complicated, as was traveling on US-395 on our way to Victorville, CA.

Enter Google Maps on my Treo 755p. I loaded up the directions and refreshed it as we went through the various towns. It helped guide my way along US-395 and even as darkness came on, it helped find a shorter path to my sister's house.

It will forever be in my arsenal of tools when traveling on the road.

My Tréo and business travel

Hi, Sammy and everybody. I hope everyone is doing fine, specially because the weekend is almost here. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks for me with plenty of business traveling. This hasn’t kept me from reading this web log, though. As mentioned in a previous post, I have PA’s RSS as one of my personal channels in Avant-go and I sync via my laptop as often as I can.

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Let me share with you some miscellaneous thoughts about my Tréo and traveling. I use it to make notes during each customer visit which saves me much work afterward. I also record my expenses in it, read books, play Bejeweled 2 or news during free time.

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For note-taking I use either the built-in Memo application managed with the excellent PSMemo, or SplashNotes that allows me to use templates. If using Memo, I normally carry some extra prefab memos as templates, but this means that I need to make sure there are still plenty of them to use when the time comes. When visiting a customer I try to capture all the relevant information. The Tréo is my memory nowadays, you know. After the call, once I have a chance I can fill in other details either in the Tréo or after I sync to my laptop where I prepare and send the final call report in Word to all my associates via email. That way I keep record of the most relevant information.

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BTW, I am still using Graffiti (not Graffiti 2) rather than the keyboard. For that I use TealScript which is almost as having the original Graffiti option in your Palm except when it gets a little bit stubborn. I prefer Graffiti over the keyboard since I can write faster with it than with the keyboard. I have been using Graffiti since my days of the m515, my original PDA, and continued using it with the T3. I also burn screen protectors as crazy.

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For expenses I am still using the Expense application originally bundled with my T3, but without the conduit. I haven’t still figured it out how to have the conduit. This application is very basic but does what I need it to do. I will be looking into other options in the near future.

Book reading anyone? I love Palm Reader / eReader. It is simple, there are plenty of options to read; commercial or even my own that I convert using Palm Dropbook and if you didn’t know, eReader Pro is now free and it has plenty of platforms covered, BTW. Palm Reader has a long story with Palm OS where it has changed hands and name a couple of times where eReader is the latest iteration.

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There is more to traveling with a Tréo but for now I guess this is enough. The weekend is here so we’ll leave the work talk for another day. Enjoy yourselves and see you right here!

Confessions of a Palm Addict

[From Larry, Altoona WI] Hello; my name is Larry, and I’m a Palm addict.

The first Palm that graced my hands was actually purchased as a present for my wife, having just graduated with her RN degree. It seemed like the clouds opened up and a ray of light shone down as I opened the box with only the best intentions of giving her a tool that would help her every day in her new occupation. Over the next couple days, as I put together a suite of medical applications for her daily use, I came to realize that I coveted that Vx. I needed one for my very own. A devoted husband, I forced myself to finish my task and turn the Vx over to my wife. Then I promptly went out and bought one for my own.

That was years ago, and my Vx is still my most prized possession. While my less techno-impressed wife used her Palm less and less (towards the end, only for the calculator), I grew more and more devoted; or more honestly, obsessed. My Internet Explorer favorites include half a dozen sites that I check on a daily basis for new applications like a junkie seeking his fix. Each morning I download Plucker files for daily news, favorite columnists and forums (Love ya, Sam!), and even hunting/fishing news from our state DNR. Whether sitting at my son’s karate class, at the coffee shop, or even over breakfast, my time is spent solving crosswords, playing card games, and even emulating Gameboy games. Conversion programs, sun compasses, and website/password encryption; I've tried them all. Even my recipes and shopping lists are kept stored for easy and convenient access.

Customizing my Palm’s look has also taken up much of my time. My startup app shows me a quick glance at my daily schedule superimposed over my favorite cartoon. My launcher provides me with a 'Windows' feel, while another app supplies a sound scheme for system events much like that of Windows as well. Speed apps provide a boost to overall performance, much like putting a Hemy engine in a classic car. All this despite the Vx's 8Mb memory limit and no memory card expansion.

Some may call it addiction; I won't disagree. But I would also call it love at first byte.

Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset

Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset on offer $42.95 Retail Price: $79.95. "Simplify your communications! The lightweight, versatile Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset delivers all-day wearing comfort and provides a WindSmart wind-repelling screen for clear voice transmission. Featuring exclusive Multipoint Technology, the Voyager 510 seamlessly transforms into a powerful communication solution for up to two Bluetooth devices. It's right here: Wherever, Whenever, Wireless."

San Francisco's BART May Get Wi-Fi

[From Freda] Hi Sammy, Thank you to you and your team for all your hard work. Without you guys/gals, many of us would not get our daily dose of Palm related information. Checking in with the Palm Addicts site is one of the first things I do after dropping the kids off and before starting work. So this morning I'm savoring my second cup of coffee and reading the San Francisco Examiner. Apparently our Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains may be getting wi-fi access soon... see this link. I do ride BART regularly and pull out my TX to pass the time away. I would be very happy if I also had the option of being able to use wi-fi during my commute. Enduring a few moments of advertising in exchange for wi-fi doesn't sound like a bad deal. I have a relatively short commute (only about 25 minute train ride one way), so I don't think I will purchase a subscription. I'll check things out my next time on a BART train if testing is still going on and report back to you...

My Tungsten C

[From Stu] For me, using a Tungsten C for about 3yrs has yielded some great insight. I am much more space conscious of what I have to work with, I definitely use the infrared a lot more than Wi-Fi (more-so hacking friends devices - consoles, TV's, laptops (Mac's are fun, nowadays!), other palms, etc. - than sending new apps to friends' palms), and I always enjoy playing games that require you to use the four buttons on lower front - e.g. bee. But what I use my palm for most often is jotting down awesome geek stuff - authentic light sabers, wi-fi detector shirts, a ball that shocks you will playing hot potato - and how much they cost as well as watching a good old mp4 video off my 1GB SD card in landscape mode with the old version of TCPMP (the new one doesn't support the AAC audio codec >:( ) Using ICQ over Wi-Fi is another thing I love to do (although bluetooth would be much faster); it keeps me hooked with my friends when they're using there favorite chat client (though sometimes a stalker feeling comes into mind, just kidding). The only thing I loath is that I can't listen to my music via the standard 3.5mm headphones. I have yet to find some really weird ancient adapter that splits the mono voice recorder & stereo speaker outputs. And for once I just wish my stylus would just stay in there when I run to catch the bus!!

I am almost too embarrassed to mention but....

[From Alan] First I hope all is well in Palmdom, it is raining and very cold here in Cedar Rapids but anyway on to the embarrassing story. I love my wife and the light in our room bothers her when I turn it on while she is sleeping. Sooo, I have discovered a new use for my TX. When I have to go now in the middle of the night my device does double duty. Not only do I check the PA site as I previously mentioned, but it also serves as a handy night-light to make my exit from the bedroom without disturbing my bride. Now if you publish this one I do not think I will be able to live it down, ok, I will and my honey will also think I am soooo sweet. Happy addiction Friday guys.

Touch love casing for your iPhone

Got that much love for you shiny little device iPhone? Then for a 'mere' $34.99 you can get Xylo newest case for iPhone, the Touch Thru (T2) case. It's made from polycarbonate with chrome reflect design, where with it you're not only protect your precious iPhone; but you also still can touch it with your fingertip thanks to what they called Surface Xylo Wave technology.

Hit on this link to see the galleries of Xylo T2, and read on Engadget Mobile blog here too while you're at it.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Track live traffic with your mobile phone

Microsoft is trying their hardest to catch up with Google's internet services, the latest offering from the software giant is a live traffic coverage called "Clearflow". It's a 5 years project from company's artificial intelligence team at Microsoft Research laboratories, it sounds very much like a movie story line.

This Coverflow is part of Microsoft Live site, and will cover over 72 cities in the US. The technology is here anyway, but according to Switched; the cursory looks at traffic route information for New York City and Chicago didn't seem to show side street information or alternative routes. Sources are from NY Times here via Switched here.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Text message alert in your mobile phone

On last Wednesday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an order a new system to send text message alerts to US citizen mobile phone on natural disaster or other national emergencies. This is a logical plan since there are more than 250 million people in the country that use mobile phone, where according to Engadget Mobile here individuals can opt out of the system whenever they desire to. But this new system is yet to be use in reality right now, because no goverment agency has been appointed to do the task.

FCC also intend to make mobile wireless operators to send the text with vibration & audio signals for people with dissabilities, these operators will have to comply to the rules within 10 months after an agency has been named to collect & transmit the alerts to them. I really hope other countries like Indonesia will adopt this system too, with more and more natural disasters are happening around the globe we need a quick mass info at hand when needed. Read on PCW Business Center article here for more in deepth coverage story.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Minnie Driver can't hold her iPhone properly

Another mobile phone usage appearence in celebrity world, which this time it's more kinda embarassing moment for Minnie Driver. She plays as Dahlia Malloy in FX's "The Riches" tv series, Switched got caught her used the iPhone in upside down position (pictured left). Feels like she did this blooper on purpose, rather than an accident. Check it our at Switched here.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Enjoying many news & more coffee

Oh boy, I'm amazed on how many RSS feeds I got this morning when I fired up my Treo; there are more than 200 of them! Even though I've read so many news from last night, and already wrote some blogs also with my Treo, it seems the internet is flooded with exciting news right now. It took more time than my usual morning ritual, where a cup of coffee accompanied me while reading those news with my Treo.

Lucky enough I got plenty of spare time today from routine work, so I'm going to take a break and brew another cup of coffee before I put my thumbs to dance on Treo's keyboard again. I know I'm going to enjoy moblogging from Treo, and I hope you'll enjoy my posts too. Please drop a line if you have any grudge or complain on them... This is how I use my Treo everyday, besides making calls & text messaging with it. In the meantime, why don't you also make a cup of leisure addiction ...err, I mean a cup of coffee.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

iPhone is killing the Net (part. 1)

Wow, the subject title sounds like a very strong sentiment on Apple’s famous shiny device: iPhone. It’s only have been several hours since the first post from Carolyn D. Marsan (Network World), where she discussed about the content of a controversial new book from Professor Jonathan Zittrain. But the internet is already at full throttle to cover this subject like a hot pancake coming out from the oven, allow me to add more syrup on it while it’s still warm.

Who is Zittrain anyway that he gets so much attention? For short infos, Zittrain is the Professor of Internet Government and Regulation at Oxford University, he also the co-founder of Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. It’s a no brainer actually, since he’s the alumni of Yale and Harvard as well. His latest book is called ‘The Future of the Internet and How to stop it’ (pictured left), set to be release on April 14th later.

Zittrain suppressed on how today’s internet appliances and devices, that are neatly packaged and ready to use, have make us less concern on the freedom of open network. He takes a very good example such as iPhone and Xbox, where we are forced down to use what’s inside those devices and the softwares provided by the manufacturers who made them. Marsan has put a better saying for this issue in her article: “a world where mainstream technology can be influenced even revolutionized, out of left field.”

Unlike PC, where its main strength is it’s designed to run many 3rd party softwares; not just software written by the manufacturer. Our personal experience on the ease of use and the promise of security on special devices like iPhone, has driven all of us to give up that freedom.

To be continued on part. 2, source is from Network World via PC World here.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

A quick look at the FindMe Beta

FindMe from ElectricPocket is a relativly recent new beta application they have released a few weeks ago.  FindMe utilises GPS or cell tower triangulation (or both) to update your location on Facebook via it's own little application.

FindMe doesn't quite broadcast your position; you bookmark locations and FindMe updates your position when your arrive or pass through one of these location.  You also have the option to 'go dark' whereby FindMe stop reporting your status.

Having had a play about with the BlackBerry version (Win mobile also available) I like it although being the tin foil hat man I am I have privacy reservations, namely I tihnk it should be always off not always on so you update your location when you like, although that defeats the point of it to an extent.

It's an excellently made program (as per Electric Pocket's usual standard) and is the only program I can think of that fills this niche in the market, and with Geotagging becoming the next biggest thing perhasp EP are on to a winner with tis on?  Personally I am still using it but only updating my location sporadically, call me paranoid but people follwoing my location of Facebook makes me a tad security conscious!

It's free so I encourage any Facebook user who has BlackBerry or Win Mobile users to head over to Electric Pocket's website and check it out, especially if you have a GPS based device.   Please remember though it is in beta so don't expect it to be 100% finished, but do also rememebr it's free! Can I take my tin foil hat off now?

Palm & BlackBerry face challenges against iPhone

I'm pretty sure this post's subject is not a surprise any more for you fellow Palm Addict readers, Palm is already in serious situations because of the company is no longer able to deliver breakthrough devices in the last years. And the growing BlackBerry has gain more followers nowadays, injecting more and more "CrackBerry" viruses to people around us; maybe you too have been contaminated. To make matter worst, Apple released iPhone to the world; and never has been a phone so desired by everybody.

As what Charles Wolf, and analyst from Needham & Co., has said not long ago that Palm has lost its way and faces its deepest challenge now than ever. With Apple is planning to release a newer iPhone firmware on June later this year, where 3rd party software developers are set to fuel iPhone & iPod Touch with boundless applications offering, Palm & BlackBerry will both loose more market share. Wolf even credited iPhone as "a game changer" device, and he also wait for Google's Android to see what impacts it will bring to the mobile phone market.

There's also an interesting comment from Wolf, his own point of view on Research In Motion (a.k.a. RIM-BlackBerry maker): "Research In Motion's market leadership is based entirely on the incompetence of the competition, RIM's competitors until quite recently were simply inept. Their failure stemmed less from their ability to design sleek phones than in their choice of an operating system on which to run them."

Overall, Wolf measures Palm shares as under-perform; while BlackBerry rating is still on pending until the release of iPhone firmware 2.0 update on June. Source is from Jonny Evans (MacWorld.co.uk) via PCW Business Center here.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Android gets Opera Mini support

Even though Google's Android open platform for mobile phone is not yet been released into the market, it has been receiving many supports from software developers. One in particular is from Opera, where on the last Thursday Opera has announced that Opera Mini now can be run on Android platform. There are no actual Android handsets to test it with, but Opera's Developer Relationship Manager Chris Mills has said in the company's blog post that there are challenges on making Opera Mini to run on Android & it's still in the Beta phase. So partners who tried it and use Opera's SDK kit, will be faced with many bugs and hiccups. If you're interested in technical preview of it, then read on the Opera website here.

This is kinda exciting to know that Android mobile phones will get so much support from today softwares & applications, it would be interesting to try one if it's finally out in the market. Read on PCW Business Center article here for the full report.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Its soooo official

So now that I have the treo up and running for the posts I thought I would let you know how the day was with the treo. So far I have been using my treo a lot with bluetooth so the battery had been dying faster than usual and I find myself reaching for the charger more often than usual. I used my treo today to keep me up to date on my ebay. Customers had questions about the items im selling and my treo allowed me to email them back within seconds. Before I would have to wait untill I got home and trust me that was no the best case when they need info before the auction was over. Today my treo helped my make money on ebay

SheetsToGo

I have consolidated my list of house projects on a spread sheet and I sync it with my Palm m500. I put the task in one column and the estimated time in the next column. Now if I have 15 minutes to spare I know I can look on the list and find one of my short tasks, like hanging a picture. If I will have a couple hours I might be able to get some painting done. I have tried putting the tasks in a specific day and time but with 2 little kids that was unrealistic. Now I can just look on my Palm and find what will fit in my free time slot. I can edit the list on my Palm or my computer. SheetsToGo for Excel is part of DocumentsToGo from Dataviz. It also has WordToGo and PowerPointToGo and several other files.

Last try to test the treo

So for the longest time i have been trying desperatly to get type pad mobile to work. i see so many people posting via their device and the jelousy builds. so in my final attempt i will run type pad mobile in order to post via my phone. so today im using my treo to post to pa...or i hope so anyway

It takes two to tango

As you know my life has been revolving around the “It takes two to tango”, theory when it comes to devices. Something about having the benefits of once phone and the other to compensate what its missing is beautiful. Weather it’s my treo 650 and 750 or the new dynamic duo the 750 and BlackJack II Today I used the BlackJack II to download over a thousand songs to the 8g memory card in it. Then I used it to send the music over Bluetooth to my Bluetooth speakers bumping Ludacris. Then I decide to drop off some Netflix movies off at the mail box down the street. I simply unplug the speakers and take them with me in the car since they also have batteries and my cars sound system is missing in action. Then I get a couple of emails transcribed from work through Simulscribe. I delete all of them because there’s nothing too important. Then I throw it on my PC again once I get back in order to keep all my contacts, and calendar info in sync

Seven Seas

Another game I used to play online from PopCap that gets ported into Astraware version for Pocket PC is Seven Seas. Just like Mummy Maze, this one has been my favorite among PopCap games. The point of the game is simple, try to navigate your ship avoiding pirate ships and sea monsters. The obstacles (or advantages, depending on how you navigate) are islands and whirlpools. You have cannons on either side of your ship to blast the pirates apart. Your cannons do not work against the sea monsters though.

In Astraware version, there are two difficulty levels. Judging by the size of the trial file, it probably has less number of playing levels that its desktop PopCap counterpart. But it is quite addictive all the same. It has a one-step undo button (except when you only have one life left, then you cannot undo the last step) to rectify your mistake. I use stylus to navigate the ship. There are versions for Palm and Smartphone too.

Disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated with the game maker.

Using my Asus Eee PC to it's fullest?

I have had my Asus Eee 4G for almost three months now. I would love to say that I have been using it to it's fullest potential, but I'm not sure what the fullest potential of this great little notebook really is! I have not found anything that I cannot do with it. Yeah, there is some software that I would "like" to have on it, but nothing that I really - I mean, really - need. The latest thing I have been using it for is a basic website that I have been working on for a friend and it has really come in handy. The organization that I work for frowns somewhat on using their computers for personal use. So I have been bringing my Eee to work with me and using it to do some updates to the website. During lunch and breaks, of course. I use KompoZer, which is a great little WYSIWYG web authoring program. Screen real estate can get a little cramped at times, but I have gotten used to the 7" screen. I am looking forward to seeing the next version, which is supposed to have a 9" screen. I don't know if I will upgrade or not. The Eee is small enough to take just about anywhere with me. I have a small bag that I keep the notebook in along with a small wireless mouse, the AC adapter, and a couple of SD cards and flash drives that I keep various programs and data on. I guess I don't really need much more storage than the 8gb SDHC that I use exclusively with the Eee.

I've got my Hybrid case back

I have been using the Seidio Super Slim Hybrid case with my Treo 680 since about Christmas and I have been very happy with it. Recently, I noticed a crack near one of the clips and contact Seidio customer service. I was emailed an RMA number and return instructions and I sent it back to them. Today, I received the replacement and I am sure happy to have it back. I like the added protection it gives and I also like the feel of the material rather than the somewhat slick feel of the Treo casing. While I was waiting for the replacement turnaround, I ordered and received the Seidio case holster that fit with my Super Slim case. I've only used the combo for a few hours, but I really like them. I am overall pretty satisfied with Seidio for replacing my case under warranty. Thanks.

A Small, Nice Progress

My wife has never been of a *mobile-organized* person. She only uses her cellphone to make phone calls, send SMS, and that's about it. In order to keep things on track in her day-to-day activities, she relies on her little hardcopy agenda notebook. So she kind of surprised me last night when I asked her to do an errant for me next week, she actually took notes on her cellphone. Whoa... that is progress. Actually the other day not too long ago I already asked her if she would have like to have a better cellphone, one that will have more advanced notetaking features. At the time, her answer was a short "No." So it was refreshing last night that she started to make more use of her current cellphone. Although it is just utilizing the Calendar feature, I think it is a nice step to take.

Palm Z22 for my daughter

Last year, I had given a well used Tapwave Zodiac to my daughter to play her games on. It is great watching preschooler use a PDA - even if it is for games. Well, the Zodiac recently developed a digitizer drift problem. I had not been able to do anything to fix it, so I decided to get her another one off of eBay. I didn't want to spend a lot on it, after all it is for a 5 year old. I found a refurb Palm Z22 for a decent price and it arrived today. It's quite different than the Zodiac, of course. It has a low-res screen and it does not have stereo sound. But it will still be great for keeping her busy at times. I also put some phone numbers of family and close friends and some birthdays before I gave it to her. She loved the gift and spent quite a while playing with it this evening. She wanted to call her MawMaw and tell her about it. Of course, she wanted to look up the phone number in her PDA and then dial it herself.

OK, to be absolutely honest, I hadn't really planned on getting her a replacement for the Zodiac. However, she had been asking me quite often recently if she could play with my Treo 680 and I just couldn't go for that!

Longing for Pocket ODF

When I work on Linux box, I have three choices of office suites on my disposal: OpenOffice.org, KOffice, and GnomeOffice. Out of the three, I use OpenOffice.org the most. It is also available under Windows, so it is cross-platforms. However, occasionally I may need to open some ODF files on my O2 Xda IIi PDA Phone. There is yet an OpenOffice.org Pocket PC version. I am told that SoftMaker Office 2008 for Pocket PC will have capabilities of reading and writing ODF file format, however it is not free nor open source. So, all along when I want to open an ODF (especially .odt format) file on my PDA, I usually export it first into .pdf, or into .psw format. With .pdf format I can only read it. With .psw format I can maybe edit it a little with Pocket Word, but so far the result is usually not good. There seems to be another choice, which is using XMerge Pocket Word Plugin. Now this is still far from being perfect, but it is better than nothing at all. Hopefully sooner or later there will be more ODF support on Pocket PC and Palm.

Thank Goodness TypePad is not blocked

Since several days ago, due to the incident with the Fitna movie, 7 major websites are blocked in Indonesia. They are Youtube, MySpace, Metacafe, Rapidshare, Multiply, Liveleak and Themoviefitna.com. A few of my friends and colleagues have been complaining already. They used to visit Youtube and Multiply, but now they cannot do so. They did not even watch the Fitna movie, to be honest. Well, I myself do not actually visit those websites, so I am the least affected among us. It is the Indonesian government regulation, so I guess there is no point complaining now. But anyway, I am grateful that TypePad is not blocked. Otherwise, I may not be able to read and post on PalmAddicts. Thank goodness! :-)

THROWAWAY: 2nd hand LifeDrive [working fine] and I also have a spare stylus and leather case

It's Thursday and we will have a throwaway today and tomorrow, so, for today's throwaway, we have a 2nd hand LifeDrive [working fine] and I also have a spare stylus and leather case to throw in with this one, plus I'll throw in the book How to do everything with your Palm powered device which is the 6th edition of this popular book. I'll do this throwaway slightly different and I'll give it to someone at random providing you give me a couple of lines on how they use their mobile devices. Remember no self software or website promotions, and do not send anything you have sent in before. As I have mentioned in the past I really appreciate the people who add kind words to their me in their email, a small percentage of people just send their thought in without even saying hi or how are you, so your messages are always welcome. Please email me your thought and put THURSDAY in the subject line, or we cannot enter you and email - sammymcloughlin@gmail.com

I'll end this TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT US PT, writers post as normal and just let me know by email, [don't forget to put THURSDAY in the subject line] that you are interested.

I love my T/X

[From Norbert Haukenfrers] Hi sammy, I love your blog, but I love my palm even more. I take it with me everywhere. I write e-mails, draft letters, and proof presentations in word and power point. With my palm I very rarely need to take my notebook as I can take notes or give presentation right from my T/X. I listen to mp3’s while travelling or away. I love my palm so much I bought my wife one for Christmas. Now she can synchronize with me more regularly and easily as she knows what’s going on and wher I will be when. Did I mention that it is my one stop organizer and planner. People sometimes say they are amazed at how I keep it all straight and remember their birthdays. I’m scared that without my palm I would be less of a man. I have found my T/X to be the most efficient gadget ever and that is why I love my palm – it makes me look good.

How I became a Palm Addict

[From Edison Montes M] Hi Sammy... Like you I'm a Palmaddict. And I'll tell you why.

My story begins 10 years ago when the Palm Pilot Pro came to my life. I was at my last year at university studying Medicine, so this "little machine" as I called it, helped me a lot with my study, storing in it medications data, patient profiles, the calendar for my shifts. It was a great partner.

Later when I could earn my own money, I changed it for a Palm m515. The change was from earth to heaven. I was delighted for the colors it game me, and because of Palm success I found more and more programs to use on it everyday. The only problem with that was that I had to sell my Palm Pilot Pro for buying my m515.

Time passed by, and Palm was improving more and more it's devices, so one day I decided to change my m515 for a brand new Tungsten T3. If m515 was heaven, then T3 was the Walhalla... virtual graffitti, landscape mode, mp3 support, bluetooth and so many other capabilities, wow... I stressed my T3 to the limit and it never dissapointed me. Once again I had to sold my m515 in order to buy the T3... What a sad thing again.

Well I got married and my wife loved Palm devices too when she saw all sort of thing I did with my T3. So one day I gifted her a Tungsten E and teached her how to get the most of her device. But one day the screen crashed. She was so sad so I had to buy her a new device, and it was Zire 72... She's not a photographer but I got amazed by the photos she took with that tiny camera.

On one of my birthdays my wife surprised me with a tremendous gift... a Palm TX!! I cryed like a child because I never expected to afford a Palm TX, because I had to buy 2 devices for her in a short period of time. If T3 was the Walhaya, the Palm TX was Wonderland because I thought I was in a dream... how can it be possible!! WiFi inside a so tiny device!! By the way I decided to sell the T3 in order for a future gift for my wife.

And the gift came real. I won a Treo 680 in a contest at Palm website!! Never in my life I had won anything, besides the luck of choosing my wife, so what I could afford a christmass gift for my wife, a Treo 750.

Fortunately, I didn't had to sell neither the Zire 72, or the Palm TX... and the broken screen Tungsten E obviously will never be sold in it's condition... So I decided to create the "Unwanted Palm Devices Foundation". There we receive the devices that their owners don't want anymore because they have upgraded to a newer one.

Jokes out... I had the luck to buy again my Palm Pilot Pro, looking for the guy who buyed my m515 for buying it again no matter it costs, and when it's done I will go for the T3. All of this devices deserves to be cared... And hopefully I'll try expanding my collection of Palm devices. So you can see Sammy... I'm a Palmaddict, but I need no cure.

Greetings

Tip for the road warriors

I don’t take long road trips that often but when I do I hate when I lose the signal of my favorite local radio stations and I’m stuck scanning the air waves. Solution: an unlimited data plan and your Smartphone of choice (Sprint HTC Touch) and an aux cable.

A lot of newer cars are coming equipped with aux jack and if you don’t have one of those a FM transmitter will work just fine.

Using a site like http://www.thestreamcenter.com/PDA/ you can stream your favorite radio station to your car’s stereo. You if you’re like me and want to hear your local sports talk program while you’re driving a 5,000 miles away or even if you want to listen to a good station from a different city, this is for you.

Wireless FM Transmitter: $18

Universal Stereo Headset Adapter for Cell Phones: $15

Listening to Chicago sports radio while driving by the corn fields in Iowa: PRICELESS

(Also doubles as car stereo hands-free speakerphone)

Electronic bookmark

[From Daniel A. Paprocki] Instead of having my books on my PDA, I keep track of where I am in each book in a document. Usually I have a half a dozen books that I’m reading. When traveling, instead of lugging all my books I keep track of where I’ve left off in a PDA memo. This way I can go a bookstore, grab a book I’m reading, and just continue where I left off. Oh I forgot, get the large coffee and blueberry muffin.

I use a Palm Tungsten T2

[From Kevin Thompson ] I use a Palm Tungsten T2! I use my T2 to implement GTD, with my projects managed in a special category of memos, my calendar, and my next actions as todo's. I keep deadlines in a special todo's category, so I can filter past them when I just want to run through my next actions. I love your site. It's very informative.

Resco Explorer 2008 for the Palm OS

[From Bill Quinlan] (Hi Sammy, thanks for your website and all the great Palm ideas! It makes my day and keeps me going with Palm.) Resco's latest version of it Explorer for the Palm is really great. It lets you browse both the internal RAM and any SD card attached. It organizes all your files and can act as a launcher, sound player, picture viewer and installer to RAM. It even has a great backup/restore option. It costs $29.95 for new users and half that for existing users of old versions. See http://resco.net/palm/explorer/indepth.asp. The newest feature is Bluetooth FTP! It comes with a little program called BlueFTP.prc which turns your handheld into an FTP server accessible by any FTP client. I use it to copy and install files into my internal RAM or SD card from my laptop wirelessly. Take a look at this great product.

I migrated to my treo 650 from a Sony Clie NX.

[From Anton (from Slovakia)] I migrated to my treo 650 from a Sony Clie NX. One thing that i missed pretty hard was the handstrap. I could use my Clie practically on-the-run without fearing to drop my precious one ;-) I searched the internet for a solution, but i did not want any, that would make my Treo any bulkier. Then one day, took off the battery cover, battery, meditated for a while, and there was an idea. :) I noticed, that there is a little "horn"(spit? head?:) on the right side, on each end of the battery. ň The horns are holding the battery in little holes in treos body. It is quite easy to shift the loop of any handstrap to get caught between the upper right horn and the hole. Then, only thing necessary is to make some space in the wall of the battery cover, where the strings would lead. In the fact, i was so eager to make my idea reality, that i used the first kitchen knife i found ;-) few minutes of treo-carving, then just popped on the battery cover, and voila... Treo with an handstrap :) This solution works for me for half a year now and seems like it will last longer than the Treo itself. And surprisingly - the battery cover holds absolutely firm, even pulled in a right angle. I seems like it could hold a small horse beside my Treo ;-) Greetings to all Palm adopters, specially to you Sammy. Have a productive day

RSS can be portable?

[From David McDanal] Hey Sammy hope things are going well for you on this yet another sunny Thursday. If you are ever in Miami, drop me a line. As usual I am a little slow to get on the bandwagon, but something that I have really enjoyed over the last couple of week is using my Dash to read RSS over Google Reader. I always thought it would be annoying to read them on the small screen, but I have really enjoyed reading my blogs on it. I just use the Wifi when I wake up and read a few items. It saves me a lot of time, and its very pleasant to read on the small screen. I thought it would give me a headache to read articles on it, but its the opposite. The more I use my mobile, the less I am using my computer, which seems to make my life a little easier. I really want to get a Pocket PC before the years end, and have the touchscreen that I miss from my former Palms.

A(nother) fix for a broken T5 power button...

[From Chris2.0, SouthAfrica2.0...] Hiya Sammy, Greetings from South Africa's capital!

Just last week my trusty (or not so trusty anymore..) T5 refused to power off by pressing the power button. Powered it up by pressing a hard button. And then it didn't want to power off anymore! Had a look to see if there was anything stuck underneath the button, wiggled it with my fingernail, blew away some dust particles, still nothing. I could hear the switch clicking when I press the button, but nothing happened! Ooookaaaay... If I can't fix this in hardware, I can always use software!

Googling "T5 remap power button" gave me quite a few options! I tried PowerBtn, Offstroke, CenterMenu and a few others that I've deleted since... In the end I didn't really want to lose a hard button, so I used the Hard key macros of Alex Pruss' MySkin app! I mapped the centre button's press&hold action to Power off. this solved the switching off bit... Try as I might I could not get the other apps to power on the T5 by pressing the centre button! So I used the default behaviour of pressing a hard button to wake up the device. But, being a compulsive note taker, sometimes my press-to-wake-up the device switched my categories in PsMemo! Like we say in South Africa - "Eishhh..."!

But there is a workaround - if you press and hold the home button when the device is off, it wakes up to exactly the screen you left, it just pops up a quicklaunch window that disappears after a second or two!

Problem solved at no extra cost! Now I'm searching for either a TX or a LifeFlashed LD to replace my wonky T5! (Or move to Apple as soon as I unbrick my iPod Touch AND Apple serves up a handwriting recog app on the iPhone or iTouch!)

Now just to break the habit of trying to switch the T5 on/off with the now broken power button!!

How Mobile Technology Evolved

I feel that mobile technology have come a long way. Nowadays, you can have a mobile device of anything from a portable dvd player to a portable game system. The technology has evolved too, the amount of applications or activities that you can do on you mobile device has evolved as well. For example, on a portable music player such as mp3 player, you can access the radio, connect to the Internet and even play flash games. In addition, the mobile device might have extra features to save up energy such as power off feature when your not using the system or longer lasting re-chargeable batteries so you don't have to keep paying money to replace the batteries on your system. Furthermore, mobile technology have become the optimal device to connect with other people around the world with portable internet access, people can access different social networks and chat with their friends or exchange photos and videos. A couple of years ago, mobile technology would be bulky and unattractive and nowadays the mobile devices have become slicker, smaller, and easier to carry and customize as the technology advanced to improve the mobile technology field. I feel that as time goes on, mobile technology will continue to improve and we look on these days as the evolution of the mobile technology and how advanced technology can become, when there are masses of people supporting it's development and improvement. Some people say that there is mobile device revolution, because everyone wants to get their hands on the newest, advanced mobile technology, however as the technology gets more advanced, the prices tend to raise and it's harder to afford those devices. I feel that there should be a balance between the two, as mobile technology evolves, the prices should be more affordable so everyone can have the chance to enjoy the beauty of a mobile device.

And It Even Cooks Breakfast (Well, Not Really) ....

[From Richard in Missouri (Maryville, MO)] I was talking with a coworker over lunch. He'd previously been interested in getting some kind of smartphone after watching me use my Treo, and he had mentioned today that he had been considering getting a Blackberry from Verizon with a data plan.

He still wasn't entirely sold on getting a smartphone, and he said so, commenting that he would "only use it for the GPS". I agreed with him, and pointed out that he could use Google Maps, as I'd once done on a business lunch, to look up a restaurant address and get directions.

So I showed him how easy it was to sync up his e-mails and show his Outlook calendar entries. "But I wouldn't need that unless I was traveling, and then I'd likely have my laptop." Then I showed him Docs to Go and brought up an Excel spreadsheet from a Versamail attachment, scrolling the columns.

That got his interest. "What else can you do with it?" he asked. So I launched TCPMP and showed him the latest Star Trek episode I'd moved onto the SD card, and his jaw dropped. I'm not sure if it was because it was a Star Trek episode, or because I was doing something with my phone that you only did with iPods or laptops, but he was suitably impressed.

Just the Simple Things

[From Antoine RJ Wright (Charlotte, NC, USA) at Mobile Ministry Magazine] Greetings to Sammy and the crew at Palm Addict. Its good to read so many new and seasoned mobile users speak about their experiences. I had one of those moments today in speaking with a woman at a youth center where I volunteer that Palms really are simple devices that makes life easier to handle.

She is a fairly recent Centro user and has had some fun in using it and getting it set up. According to her, she was asked to replace her old and dying mobile with something that would help her manage her work and personal lives better. She settled on the Sprint Centro because of price and signal quality where she lives. But other than adding a few new ringtones and messing with the calendar, she had not really taken advantage of things.

So I asked her if her if she had used the MyTreo program? Nope. I told her to make sure that she gets into using that as that will not just give some special offers, but provides a means for tech assistance right form Palm. She did mention that she stumbled on the user manual - she skipped the tutorial when she set the Centro up - and so that was a simple and nice find.

Then I asked her my favorite question: do you have a Bible on there yet? She looked at me like I was silly. I told her to go to Olive Tree and download their Bible reader and a Bible. She started on their free version just to get used to things. After syncing, she opened Bible Reader and it was like looking at a little kid on Christmas. She started scrolling and clicking and just investigating something that she never thought was possible - a bible on her Palm.

Within minutes she found the notes, search, and bookmarks. I then mentioned that she should invest in a nice sided memory card so that she can carry her music with her. Her eyes opened up wider still. I pointed her to Pocket Tunes and Windows Media Player on her computer before leaving her office. The fun of the Palm OS for me was discovering new ways to do things. I left her with that simple pleasure. Sometimes, that's all you need, and the Centro surely fit the bills for today.

How the Treo Saved Me from Physics

As a first year university student, I am adjusting well to university life. Being in Life Sciences has given me a greater appreciation and deeper understanding of biology, physiology and anatomy. Unfortunately, part of my degree requirement is a full year of introductory physics - not quite the most exciting subject for a future medical researcher. I'm not a fan of free body diagrams, right hand rules or circular motion (no offence to the engineers/physicists out there!). So, today, when class became unbearable (we were talking about gas particle motion) I pulled out the Treo and killed the remaining time with Sudoku and Tower of Hanoi. The Treo not only helps me with my organization and PIM but also to help me escape boredom...if anyone has any suggestions, I am looking to add more games to my device to diversify my options for next Physics lecture!

Diet & Exercise Assistant Bundle 7.2

Diet & Exercise Assistant Bundle 7.2 .This seems a great program for exercise and health programs."Tired of not getting the weight-loss results you want and work so hard for? We make it simple to achieve your weight loss goals. Diet & Exercise Assistant is the perfect companion to any weight loss program. Select one of our diet plans to fit your lifestyle or you can configure the application to support any of the popular diet programs today."

Fuel Log 2.4

Fuel Log 2.4This seems a great program to track your fuel use,a handy tool."This application was written to keep track of the fuel used to run vehicles, i.e. the date, amount and distance travelled. This application then calculates the fuel economy since the last fill up. It supports many types of units of measurement, e.g. Metric, Imperial and English (US unit types). Multiple vehicles can be tracked via the categories."

Car Master 3.1

Car Master 3.1This seems a great program to track your car at all times."Easily track all of the information about your car. Whether for personal or business use, Car Master will organize and track it all. The Vehicles data base will store information about each car you want to track. You can keep track of an unlimited number of different vehicles. For each Vehicle you can record insurance information, track service and repairs as well as record information concerning the next service due (based on the information you enter.) You can also keep track of mileage and separate business and personal use. In the fuel database you can track fuel expenses, your MPG and average MPG. This simple to use program let's you keep all of your pertinant auto information, at your fingertips at all times. Its simple enough for the individual wanting to track personal or business use of a single car or a couple of cars, yet powerful enough to track the fleet of cars owned by the car collector."

Rapid Movie 2.0

Rapid Movie 2.0This seems a great program to capture those great shots." The general purpose of RNS:: Rapid Movie is capturing film frames at a rate much slower than a playback speed. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster. Processes that would normally appear subtle to the human eye become very pronounced. Technologies supported: The following photography and cinematography techniques are supported by RNS:: Rapid Movie: Time-lapse - each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back. Stop motion - an animation technique which makes static objects appear to move. Sequential shooting - pictures are captured one after another in equal intervals."

Smartphone Experts UltraSlim Skin Case for Treo 680

Smartphone Experts UltraSlim Skin Case for Treo 680 from Smartphonetools.com. "If you are looking for a slim case that protects your Treo 680 from nicks and scratches, look no further than the low-profile SPE Ultra Slim Skin Case. This ultra slim case offers half the thickness and better keyboard access of competing products. The keyboard cut-out now follows the side of the Treo rather than overlapping it, so usability of the keys located on the sides of the keyboard (Q,A,Fn, P, Return, Backspace) are improved. The skin is also sprayed to reduce the stickiness of the silicone (making it easier to carry the phone in your pocket), yet offers anti-slip properties which gives your phone more grip on all type of surfaces. The case is made of a durable rubber material that feels great when gripped. The Treo remains fully usable in as the keyboard is exposed, and there are cutouts for the sync connector, headset jack, camera, speaker phone, stylus, and all the functions located at the top of the Treo. Four colors of the UltraSlim case is available - Frosted Clear, Future Blue, Lady Pink, and Executive Grey."