Utilities are programs that improve upon the default
operating system of your computer. They can add new functions to your computer
or they can make your computer easier to use, faster, more secure, etc.
Launchers
Launchers are Palm programs that help you organize your
applications and give you ready access to features such as beaming, deleting
and file management with a "drag-and-drop" interface. They give your Palm a
Windows-type "feel" by placing information such as date, time, available memory
and battery level on the screen and allow you to organize your applications,
typically in a tab-style format (see picture below which shows a launcher
called Launchem) for quick access.
(In the picture above you can see the symbol of a garbage
can in the lower green bar. To delete an application you simply drag it to the
garbage can, much as you would in Windows.)
There are many different Launchers to choose from but the
three we like the most are Launchem, LauncherX, and ZLauncher. All of these are very
stable, attractively designed and reasonably priced. They also both offer
Virtual File Sharing (VFS) functionality that allows you to place programs on
an external memory card (if your Palm has an external memory card slot) so that
you can store virtually unlimited amounts of information and programs on your
handheld.
Hacks
Another type of extremely useful addition to the PalmOS prior to version 5.0 are programs called Hacks. When people hear the word "hack" they often think of hackers and pirated software. Although this may be the context when referring to Windows (or other operating systems), a Hack for a Palm computer is a small program that extends the functionality of their computer.
Hacks will only work with PalmOS versions prior to 5.0
Before we start using Hacks we first have to install a "Hack
Manager" which is a program that controls the function of added Hacks. There
are several different programs that you can use for this purpose. The original
HackMaster was developed in 1997 but has been superseded by more stable
and user-friendly programs. We use X-Master, a free hack extension
manager available at www.linkesoft.com.
Another, more feature-rich program called TealMaster is available at www.tealpoint.com for $9.95 US.
Once you have your Hack extension manager installed one of
the first Hacks you should install is McPhling available at www.Handango.com (Note: There is a version
of McPhling available for OS5 devices which works without the use of a Hack
Manager; in fact a Hack Manager does not work at all on a Palm running OS5).
With McPhling in place a simple stroke of the stylus from the
menu area to the applications area of the graffiti region on your Palm will
bring up a user-definable pop-up menu with the most recently used and/or
favourite programs so that you can quickly switch between the multitude of
programs you’ll want to have installed. Also a stroke from the applications
area to the graffiti area will switch to the previously opened program. This
is of tremendous benefit when navigating from program to program. (Note: there
are many ways to custom configure this application the methods I have mentioned
are based on the widely used original HackMaster defaults). McPhling is
available for $12 US and is available on an honour system registration, i.e. -
it is a fully functional program and only you will know if you haven’t paid.
One of the wonderful things about the Palm OS is the availability of software
from the tens of thousands of software developers at a reasonable cost. Only
with your support can these programs remain at such reasonable prices.
Another useful Hack, especially for people new to graffiti
handwriting, is TealEcho. It is available from www.tealpoint.com for $11.95 US. This
program superimposes the image of the letter/number you are entering in the
graffiti area over the program area so you can instantly have feedback about
the character you are entering. Even once you have mastered graffiti you will
still appreciate the ability to see exactly what you are writing.
Also available from tealpoint.com is TealMagnify. For all
those finding some of the small text and images difficult to read, simply by
pressing on the Search Area of the Graffiti AREA brings-up a magnified view of
the area of screen you are viewing. TealMagnify costs $11.95 US (a whole lot
cheaper than new bifocals!).
Another useful hack is the Keyboard+Graffiti Hack available
from Handago.com for free. It is listed as KeyB+Graffiti by Rui Oliveira.
When you can’t remember the graffiti symbol for a character pressing on the "a"
or "1" on the bottom corners of the graffiti area brings up a virtual keyboard
for easy character entry. Unfortunately, in this mode, you have to keep
turning off the virtual keyboard before entering more characters with graffiti,
only to find you need the virtual keyboard for another character. This Hack
allows you to continue entering graffiti characters even when the virtual
keyboard is in place.
There are many other Hacks available for the Palm OS but these are among the most useful.
Backup
Finally, the subject of backups is an important one--just as important in the Palm world as it is with desktop computers. In the days of PalmOS versions 1.x through 3.x, we found that the built-in HotSync was inconsistent in the way that it dealt with backing up 3rd party applications, missing many. For this reason, we recommended the use of BackupBuddy ( www.bluenomad.com ), a program that would back up everything on your Palm more thoroughly than the built-in Palm backup routine does (including all 3rd-party applications), and also checked for viruses, allowed full beaming of anything on your Palm, and synced the Palm to your computer's clock.
Since PalmOS 4 the 3rd party program backup problem in HotSync has been fixed, and for this reason some people believe BackupBuddy to be redundant. However, it still has some advantages, including better control over what gets backed up and what doesn't, the ability to back up flash ROM, detailed logging, time synchronization with the desktop computer, and regularly scheduled backups. The VFS version even allows scheduled backups to and individual-file restores from expansion memory cards--but does not work on PalmOS version 5. Many recent models, such as the Sony Clies, come with their own backup programs designed specially for them, such as Sony's MS Backup (for memory sticks). These programs are very usable, though they are still not as slick and well-integrated as BackupBuddy. And there are a variety of good shareware titles (CardBackup or BackupMan) which have similar functionality.
For a good discussion of the pros and cons of BackupBuddy, see:
www.jimthompson.net/palmpda/Tips/backuptips.htm
In the end, we still recommend BackupBuddy if you are using a Palm with an OS version earlier than 4.0, and users with 4.x units may also find it a more flexible and useful backup option than HotSync alone, especially if you are backing up to expansion memory cards (which is certainly convenient). However, users with 5.x units will probably want to use either the backup program that comes with their Palm, or else one of the shareware titles that adds some flexibility to the process. Whatever you do, make sure you HotSync often, keep a record of all your software licence numbers and activation keys in a safe place, and remember that if you only back up to your memory expansion card, and you lose your Palm with the card in it, you may as well have not backed up at all!
