So, everyone is still buzzing about the Palm Pre - even after finding out no multitasking with Sprint and that they have exclusive until the end of 2009. Gotta love it. Make a new phone and use last century’s phone technology. (I wonder why the design boys at Palm didn’t make the Pre black with a rotary dial to complete the immediate obsolescence theme.) Anyway, some may be holding on to their cash until a GSM model is seen with a viable Palm as the producer. Others may be waiting with anxious, frequent checks of the internet for news of their new “precious.” They will buy before try and can’t wait to part with their cash. Still others see no reason to upgrade as the Treo in hand is a great model. For the holders and the waiters and the keepers, what might be a GREAT bit of software to spice up our present beloved handheld? Looking for a bit of fun without the heavy hit to the wallet? Then Ringo from electricpocket.com is for you. Ringo is a small, easy to use program that uses any MP3 file as a ring tone or an SMS alert. Better yet, Ringo allows the owner to use custom ring tones or SMS alerts for any person in the contacts list OR even a whole category of people. Getting calls from swabbies from the local naval base? Make a category that plays Popeye the Sailor Man. Your university-aged kids are calling, again. You know why. So make their ring tone the intro to Abba’s Money Money. Mother-in-law? Theme from Friday the 13th. (For those with a great in-law like mine, try Handel’s Hallelujah chorus). Personally, I was able to switch from a less exciting MIDI file of Phantom of the Opera as the default tone to the real deal from the movie - a full orchestra cut from the opening scenes. Those with good MIDI files still can use them via Ringo so no loss here. Now, many Treo owners know how to port a MIDI file into the Treo’s main memory for use, but this can fill that memory too fast. Ringo can use any MP3 or MIDI file on the expansion card. Got an 8 or 16GB model? Then the choices are endless. Just rip a tune from your CDs or borrow a file from a friendly, almost, nearly, might-be legal download site and load it onto your expansion card by transfer from your computer. electricpocket.com also has definitely legal tunes for free to download. Card Reader by mobile-stream is a great choice here once the tune is on the computer waiting to be transferred to the expansion card. (What no expansion slot? You already must have one of those upcoming Palm Pre’s. No expansion slot and CDMA technology. Wow. Maybe they also plan a really long extension cord to power it for continuous use.) Let’s say you are one of those people who for whatever reason never bought a Palm or abandoned the Palm OS. Now you say, “What have I done? Easy to use ring tone software and me without a Palm OS machine. What is my hope?” First, take a deep breath. Then, count to ten, or as close to ten as you know how. The friendly folks at electricpocket.com have not abandoned you. Ringo comes in many flavors: Palm OS, Centro, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and even Android. Still not completely convinced? My Treo 680 is loaded with all manner of software, and I found no conflicts. Now that’s a tribute to the Ringo writers, no? Still want more convincing? Ringo can be used for free for up to seven days, then you must buy it. At $29.95, that sure beats an expensive 2-year contract. Go ahead. Try it, and then buy it when you see how easy and how good the software is. Get is all after the jump.
Ringo Adds the Right Tunes to Your Tones
So, everyone is still buzzing about the Palm Pre - even after finding out no multitasking with Sprint and that they have exclusive until the end of 2009. Gotta love it. Make a new phone and use last century’s phone technology. (I wonder why the design boys at Palm didn’t make the Pre black with a rotary dial to complete the immediate obsolescence theme.) Anyway, some may be holding on to their cash until a GSM model is seen with a viable Palm as the producer. Others may be waiting with anxious, frequent checks of the internet for news of their new “precious.” They will buy before try and can’t wait to part with their cash. Still others see no reason to upgrade as the Treo in hand is a great model. For the holders and the waiters and the keepers, what might be a GREAT bit of software to spice up our present beloved handheld? Looking for a bit of fun without the heavy hit to the wallet? Then Ringo from electricpocket.com is for you. Ringo is a small, easy to use program that uses any MP3 file as a ring tone or an SMS alert. Better yet, Ringo allows the owner to use custom ring tones or SMS alerts for any person in the contacts list OR even a whole category of people. Getting calls from swabbies from the local naval base? Make a category that plays Popeye the Sailor Man. Your university-aged kids are calling, again. You know why. So make their ring tone the intro to Abba’s Money Money. Mother-in-law? Theme from Friday the 13th. (For those with a great in-law like mine, try Handel’s Hallelujah chorus). Personally, I was able to switch from a less exciting MIDI file of Phantom of the Opera as the default tone to the real deal from the movie - a full orchestra cut from the opening scenes. Those with good MIDI files still can use them via Ringo so no loss here. Now, many Treo owners know how to port a MIDI file into the Treo’s main memory for use, but this can fill that memory too fast. Ringo can use any MP3 or MIDI file on the expansion card. Got an 8 or 16GB model? Then the choices are endless. Just rip a tune from your CDs or borrow a file from a friendly, almost, nearly, might-be legal download site and load it onto your expansion card by transfer from your computer. electricpocket.com also has definitely legal tunes for free to download. Card Reader by mobile-stream is a great choice here once the tune is on the computer waiting to be transferred to the expansion card. (What no expansion slot? You already must have one of those upcoming Palm Pre’s. No expansion slot and CDMA technology. Wow. Maybe they also plan a really long extension cord to power it for continuous use.) Let’s say you are one of those people who for whatever reason never bought a Palm or abandoned the Palm OS. Now you say, “What have I done? Easy to use ring tone software and me without a Palm OS machine. What is my hope?” First, take a deep breath. Then, count to ten, or as close to ten as you know how. The friendly folks at electricpocket.com have not abandoned you. Ringo comes in many flavors: Palm OS, Centro, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and even Android. Still not completely convinced? My Treo 680 is loaded with all manner of software, and I found no conflicts. Now that’s a tribute to the Ringo writers, no? Still want more convincing? Ringo can be used for free for up to seven days, then you must buy it. At $29.95, that sure beats an expensive 2-year contract. Go ahead. Try it, and then buy it when you see how easy and how good the software is. Get is all after the jump.
Ready? Set? Lawyer!
SplashShopper: The Ultimate List Manager
While it’s been a fun couple of weeks as many of us drool over the prospect of a new Palm offering and hope the Prē will not be just a Pfffftttt, we still need to use what we have while we wait. Part of that use is finding excellent software to make the Palm experience an enjoyable one as well as a useful one. This is where SplashShopper from SplashData, Inc. enters the stage right on cue.
Looking at this software, you immediately can see that it has a very long history. The illustrations in the easy-to-follow instructions show picture of Palm products with black icons on green background. "Ah,” you say, “why would I want an old product? Newer is better, no?” Well, actually, no. ’57 T-bird or new Ford Taurus? ‘nough said. (For the uninitiated a ’57 T-bird was a real sports car. This was a car your grandfather really drove, and drove in the days before the nanny state found a myriad of reasons to say, “Stop having fun or we’ll tax you out of existence. Whales, ducks, etc. somewhere need your money.” And, no, the he did not have to dodge dinosaurs or tar pits) But, I digress. SplashShopper provides a clean interface of an extremely useful data manager. The roots are obviously a glorified grocery shopping list, but the possibilities are really quite diverse given the great way in which the program is laid out. Need to organize a library (eg: books, magazines,, etc., those things you hold in your hand, curl the edges of the pages, write in the margins, etc.), SplashShoppper has a way to do it. 
Trying to single-handedly break the recession by going on a shopping spree to end all shopping sprees, but still want the best price? This software helps you to organize what you saw, where, at which price. Doesn’t have to clothes and shoes; it could be software and gadgets on main street or the ‘net. Decided to move up from Bacardi Breezers to bottles of wine which have a label that don’t attract the local winos to your side? This software can help you remember the name, vintage, price, place of purchase, etc. The programmers had a bit of fun as well by including a wide choice of icons to show which things on the “All” list have been chosen to go on the “Need” list. Nine possible columns of information can be seen, and the user can choose to sort the list you’ve created by whichever column you’d like. Probably you’d only show three or four at a time, but that still gives a great deal of flexibility. Preplanned categories of lists include Books, Chinese Food, Clothes, Gifts, Groceries, Movies, Music, Travel Checklist, and Wine. Looking at these provides the user with some ideas as how to modify or create your own lists.
But how friendly is the software? My brother-in-law says he wrote this great program for the home PC that’ll pick stocks, write letters, and make coffee every AM. But the usability is zero for all but the literal rocket scientist he is. No problem. One of the things I like to do when I get a new piece of software is to see if I can manage it without first reading the instructions. SplashShopper passed this test easily. Then when you finally do read the instructions, you can do even more. Not only is the software friendly in the palm, but so is the accompanying desktop portion. You can edit to your heart’s content on your 30 in., suntan-inducing flat screen monitor on your PC or MAC, and then sync the results to the screen in your hand. It also works the other way if you do your planning on the fly between appointments.
So, as we wait for the Palm people to bring us their next offering, SplashShopper is a great way to wait. Don’t forget, even if Palm is able to produce loads of new units on the WebOS, we may not be able to afford the unit they offer. This software makes the wait painless, and some may decide, “Why upgrade? I’ve got all I need.” Seriously, it comes in flavors for the Palm, the Pocket PC, Smartphone, iPhone, and the Blackberry. It calls itself the ultimate list manger, and in this case the PR guys are telling us consumers the truth. At only $29.95 it is a good buy when you consider that this includes both the desktop and the handheld software. Hit the link and type in those credit card details. You know you want to. Silicon Valley is waiting to hear from you. Oh yeah, almost forgot: you get 30 days free trial. So what are you waiting for?
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Sprint... Goodbye Europe, goodbye Asia, etc. Goodbye Palm. Make a beautiful unit and make it only for a part of the US market. Looks as though Palm has decided to go the way of the dodo. Well, it was fun while it lasted. I guess I'll add my Treo to the collection of other orphan tech equipment. (Mommy, Daddy looks sad, but he put all my pets back and is now sitting in the corner crying on my Teddy bear.)
So will this put Palm on a roll again?
Specs are in and the demo is still ongoing, but it looks as if Palm has done what they needed to do. They have a real winner. With a unit this good the only remaining questions are when do we see it and how much will it set us back? (You can only sell so many of the kid's pets, toys, wife's kitchen equipment, neighbor's lawn furniture, etc.) At this writing Palm stock is up just over 3.6% and climbing. For all who bought last week, it sounds like money in the till. (Ohhh, new announcement: Palm Touchstone - Wireless Inductive Charging system!! Maybe the other neighbor left out his lawn equipment ...)
Palm Pre specs
This is the baby we've been waiting for. Looks like good specs and a good unit. GPS, Blutooth, 8GB storage, and a "fast processor; Stereo A2DP support; TI's latest OMAP CPU. The first one with this CPU; 3.1-inch display, 320 x 480 -- touchscreen, with multitouch; you can replace the battery (insert cheering masses here) 3 mp camera with led flash; MicroUSB connection, USB 2.0 jack; 3.5mm headphone jack (more cheering) Portrait slide out keyboard (No tap and hope) Boys and girls, we have the real deal here. But how many house payments will it set us back?
A sock drawer?
"People want to simplify, but they want to keep certain things
separate. I like having my work life and my home life. It's all part of
what I like to do, but information is everywhere. Wouldn't it be nice
if we could take that and bring it to you in a really seamless way? To
your pocket, so your cal and contacts seamlessly get integrated in one
place."