PalmAddicts

Dynamic Trio: Skinner, FontSmoother, and Colorize

Often times when I am showing my Treo off to other "680Addicts" they ask "How did you get your Treo to look like that. The fonts are different and the colors are different as well." The answer is simple, two programs, FontSmoother and Colorize. This dynamic duo has been upgraded to a trio (no pun intended) due to the recent release of Skinner for the 680.
Skinner works flawless and as Sammy mentioned yesterday is on sale right now at a discounted price. Colorize is a program that changes the colors of the UI. The best part about it is it is FREE. I love the wide range of skins available for skinner as well as the wide variety of color combos you can pick with Colorize.
FontSmoother has the widest variety of options when coupled with the available desktop software. You can convert any font from your computer into the font of choice on your Treo. FontSmoother has been around for a while and the newest version does not require a hack program. If you are looking to give your Treo a fresh new look then check these programs out!

Pick up Colorize here
Pick up FontSmoother here
Pick up Skinner here

User Review: SplashNotes

I would like to start off my saying thank you to Kevin for allowing me the opportunity to review Splash Notes. I have many different uses for my Treo, however, there are those times when that “pen and paper” feeling creeps up on me; if I'm out and need to jot something down, or just need to make a quick list. Sometimes this rather simple task can turn into a five minute ordeal. This is where SN comes in. Before using Splash Notes I was an avid user of the Memo application. It is simple enough to make quick notes without all the Riga Moro of the more complex programs. Splash Notes solves this problem by allowing you the option to create templates, make checklist, and outlines in a matter of seconds. The biggest selling point (in my opinion) is SN’s user friendliness. The UI is set up where you only have to push a few buttons to set up a new session. You can also utilize the drag-n-drop method to transfer notes around as well as color code different notes for quick recognition. If you’re in the mood to jot something down with the stylus SN allows you to draw a quick note as well. Overall, I was very pleased with the usability and look of Splash Notes. I highly recommend it for your everyday note taking needs. Try it out here.

7 Confessions of a Cingular Sales Rep

For all of you Cingular customers out there you should read this article...It might save you a few bucks
:-) I found this article interesting and thought youd all like to read it. Cheers

The need for cell phone sales reps to cleanse themselves in the healing waters of the Consumerist is nearing an all-time high. Reps from all over the cell phone universe are flooding the tip line, a tidal wave of lost souls begging for redemption... Ok, not really, but a guy who works at Cingular just wrote us with some tips for the readers. Why should Verizon have all the damn fun?

• Avoid contract extensions by changing your rate plan at a store. "If you want to change your rate plan, do it in a retail store instead of on-line or over the phone. Officially after 1/2 of your contract is over a rate plan change results in a contract extension, but I've never once seen that rule enforced in the store."

It gets better...continue reading here

Interactive Camera Game: Arcade Reality

I recently stumbled across this new game called Arcade Reality. It looks like a pretty cool game and you can check it out here.

Arcade Reality is a interesting new game for Palm OS Treo's from Toyspring. It features a pretty original motion and camera based gameplay scheme, where game objects are overlaid on the current Treo camera view. You have to move around and aim your Treo at various monsters and ships that appear around you. As you move around, your motion is calculated based on what is seen by the camera and the game view gets updated accordingly

Developer Spotlight: Gx5

I have been a huge fan of Gx5 for about the past year or so, ever since I discovered them. I recently navigated to there website and found out that not only do they develope there own cutting edge programs, but have created the User Interfaces of many of the popular programs out today. I was fortunate enough to sit down with the owner of Gx5, Tunji Afonja, and chat with him about his company and it's products. Thanks Tunji for taking the time to do this interview.

How long has Gx5 been around?
Gx5 was formally founded in July of 2005. However the roots date back to my early years in college when I was tinkering with pqa/ web clipping development on the Kyocera 6035. At the same time I began working with Macromedia Flash, the software that ushered the era of building websites and applications with cool interfaces. These two experiences are the foundation that Gx5 was built upon. In September 2005, I left Corporate America to focus solely on growing Gx5.

I understand that not only have you developed your own products, but you have actually created the User Interfaces for some of the top PALM software out there correct?
Yes, many of the top Palm and Windows Mobile Developers hire us to design the interfaces of their flagship applications. It is something we take great pride in. In an effort to continue pushing the boundary of what is possible on mobile devices we decided to start building sample applications to experiment with new interface ideas. Some of these experiments have lead to applications like DialByPhoto and TreoMemo.

What enables you do release sleek cutting edge programs?
While functionally is still the core of a great program, we believe it should look cool doing it and we are fortunate to have a great group of Interface Designers who can take the functionality outlined by Product Architects and put the “Wow” factor in it.

What sets you apart from other developers out there?
I think we “stress” great experiences more than most developers out there. We believe that in addition to great functionality, an application should let the user have cool, fun and even emotional experiences.

What products do you currently offer?
DialByPhoto
TreoMemo
Treo WallPaper Pack

What products are “in the works”?
We continue to work with many of the Top Palm/WinMob Developers on their new products while also tinkering with some brand new ideas of ours that we hope to share with SmartPhone users soon. Be sure to stop by there website and chek them out here.

The guys at GX5 are offering Palm Addict readers a substantial discount [30% discount] on DialByPhoto until the end of the month.
DialByPhoto allows you to speed dial your favourite contacts that you call on a regular basis with photo's making it easy to choose and dial. It normally costs $14.95 but the guys at GX5 are offering it to Palm Addict readers for $10.95. Make the jump and enjoy the discount.

MVoice v. 5.5 released today

mVoice 5.5, now with a phone call logger, Phone call and voice memo recorder for Treo. Automatically record phone calls using advanced noise filter and create detail phone call log . Use mVoice to record phone calls, create voice memos and keep your voice notes neatly organized and all in one convenient place. Then turn your Treo into a SD card reader and easily transfer your voice recordings to Windows or Mac desktop.

Feature highlights:
New! Phone call logger with ability to share call log as CSV file
New! Automatic phone conversation recording
New! Advanced noise filter
New! Improved user interface
One-button phone conversation recording
Ability to enable/disable 'beep' sound when recording
Voice memos recording
Send recordings as a e-mail attach directly from mVoice
Turn your recordings into system alarms
Record in the background while using another application
Turn your Treo into a SD card reader
Record directly to SD card
and more...
Get it here

Software: EasyConvert

I just wanted to let everybody know about a FREEWARE program I ran across called EasyConvert. For those of us who use Font Hack programs, this program converts any Windows font into a native PALM font for use with one of many font hack programs. I personally use FontSmoother 2.06 and found that this program is perfect for giving my 680 a fresh look. Highly recommended.

*Note- This is a Windows program that creates native .prc files*

Pick it up here

Software Review: RecorderX 1.0

RecorderX has just been released by BMXsoft. This program is an evolution of the OEM PALM voice record software that comes standard on the Treo 680. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the functionality and ease of use this program offers.

I have tried many third party voice record programs in the past and have been disappointed by the un-fulfillment of what the developer promised. This is not the case with BMX soft. My favorite and which will probably be the most popular feature of RecorderX is the ability to record calls…automatically. Not only can you set the program to record each call automatically, but you can put restrictions of which calls to record. Options including record all calls, record outgoing/incoming calls, and even the ability to specify what phone number you would like to record.

What most impressed me about RecorderX was it User Interface. Everything is integrated perfectly making the program remarkably easy to use. I put the program to the test with a family member of mine this week. I arrived at my cousins house and asked him if he had the 50 bucks he had owed me. He stated, “I didn’t say I'd have that today” As the grin on my face widened I played our phone conversation back for him. Lets just say I got my 50 bucks. :-)

If your looking for an enhanced voice record program get RecorderX. Its reasonably priced and well worth the money.

Pick it up here.

Passion for PALM

Let me start off by giving Kudos to PALM and the quick release of the battery updater. As I visited the PA site this morning I saw the news on the updater available for my 680, the emotion that I experienced was like my daughter had just got an “A” on her report card. This made me wonder, why I am so into my cell phone? After pondering this for a minute I stepped back and looked at the entire PDA craze from an objective viewpoint. The fact of the matter is this; we all have a true passion for our PALM’s. Just think, how many hours to you spend on PA and other dedicated PDA sites? Why when someone mentions the I-Phone we prepare for hand to hand combat? Maybe that’s just me:-). The never-ending question “Why wont you try this PDA or that PDA, it’s because we have a passion for our PALM’s. Embrace your passion, Embrace your PALM.

Has the Treo 680 reached its target "market"?

As we all know the Treo 680 was released with the intentions of reaching an untapped market; the younger crowd. But have they successfully reached this market? I am a 23 year old who works full time and a full time student. I have a Treo 680 and formerly used the 650 and 600. Even though I used these devices I found that they were not “fun” enough. Apparently Palm agreed with me, hence the 680.

My grandfather has a Nokia 6010 (if you don’t know this phone was released back in the 90’s) and is not concerned about how “hip” he looks. However if I whipped out a 6010 in the midst of the Treo, Blackjack, and Blackberry users I am friends with, lets just say I would be the center of attention for the wrong reason. Never mind the technical specs, battery life (I know I know), and operating system; is the Treo fun? The answer is yes. The addition of the 680 is just what Palm needed to attract younger users.

My courses are taken online so everything is done through the web and email. I am always ahead of my classmates. I can keep up to date with my classes using Agendus Pro, check my syllabus’ using PALM PDF, type my papers using Doc to Go, and email them to my professors using SnapperMail. The biggest head turner in the young cell phone crowd is ring tones. Its amazing when I tell my buddy to email me a song, I download it and play on Pocket Tunes, and then create my own ring tones using MiniTones. If I'm in the mood for a game, No Limit Texas Hold Em, Monopoly, and Bejeweled are three of many choices.

The recent changes to the Palm OS and form factor of the 680 opened up, what was at one time, a closed door. Palm has done a great job of combing usability and the “fun factor”. When at Starbucks the phrase I hear the most is “My PDA doesn’t do that”. If there are any young readers out there debating buying/upgrading to the 680 please do so, you’ll be glad you did.