Communicating with the Palm under Linux

Before we can talk about what to put on the Palm, we have to talk about how to communicate with it. The most fundamental thing that you must have is pilot-link. Pilot-link is the primitive set of functionality needed for any type of communication. It comes in the form of a command-line interface and it also provides a runtime interface via a shared object library. In addition, it comes with a perl interface.

The best way to learn how to use pilot-link is to read the man pages that accompany it. But a hint to get you started is to learn about pilot-xfer. Most functionality happens through that program.

Now let's talk about an interface with a GUI. There are a number of choices out there. After having reviewed a number of them, my choice is clearly jpilot . The difference is that jpilot knows how to actually sync up bewteen the data available on the computer and the data on the palm. The rest of the apps that are available only know how to backup the data. Also, jpilot allows you to properly edit the data on the computer. This includes things like the addressbook and the datebook.

Other candidates include:

• I'm a fan (right now) of KDE vs. Gnome. I have tried kpilot which comes from KDE in the kedpim-pilot package. Nothing does the proper sync operation like jpilot does, but kpilot isn't bad. One thing I do not like about it is that it requires a server process to communicate through (kpilotDaemon). The problem is that after you do a backup operation and then want to access the device via a pilot-link command, it won't work because the daemon process will be in the way.
• Another choice is PilotManager. PilotManager is actually very nice. It's written in perl and functions pretty well. Here are the problems with it:
  • It can be a problem to build. I used to be able to find .src.rpm's for it but no longer. And if you update your perl installation, you will have to rebuild and install PilotManager all over again.
  • The clock sync mechanism is broken. When you sync with jpilot, it automatically sets the clock on the Palm correctly. That functionality has been broken on PilotManager for years with a claim that there's a bug in the latest versions of PalmOS.
  • One positive thing about PilotManager is that it allows you to configure for multiple backups. OTOH, it doesn't always seem to delete all the old backups that it's supposed to.

Apps that I run on my Palm

• For starters, you have to have DateBk5. This is a very large footprint (over 560K) but well worth it. It has a very large manual that goes with it and I strongly recommend that you read the entire manual very carefully. Truly amazing work. Also, it was written by C. E. Stewart Dewer who is working to try to create a gorilla preserve down in Georgia. Very cool stuff.

  Basically, the thing to realize is that the default apps that come with the Palm are crap. This app integrates the datebook with the addressbook and the ToDo list, plus a lot more.

• Next we have TealPhone. I've looked at other addressbook apps and this is the one that makes sense.

  Note that bothe TealPhone and DateBk5 use the default databases for their information, so if you have hundreds of addresses already entered, TealPhone will already know about all of them.

• The next thing is to set up Shadow Plan. This is a very sophisticated system for taking hierarchical notes. A good hierarchical note system is absolutely essential. I used to be a user of BrainForest. (which I actually paid for) and I went and switched to Shadow. That should be a pretty good endorsement. It really is better. And it is a better supported product. The Shadow author is Jeff Mitchell and he is actively working on Shadow and responds to questions/problems in his own forum.

• Next thing is that you have to have a HackMaster. The original HackMaster was written by Ed Keyes many moons ago. Since then Ed has not done anything to improve it. There's nothing wrong with HackMaster, but still, I think there's something better. For my money, I decided to go with X-Master. It's free (HackMaster is $5), it has a slightly better interface, and it's more recent. Also, X-Master is the result of trying to improve over HackMaster.

• APCalc (no web site. just get it at PalmGear.com) is a very superior programmable calculator. Obviously the one that comes with it is garbage. This one is very nice. Excellent manual.
• Launcher III to replace the app launcher that comes in ROM. Free. Very cool. I'm using an old free version 2.2 where the new version 3.0.5 is $10. Now you're starting to understand just how cheap I am.
• BeamPro is a better app for beaming things out.
• Z'Catalog is a way of tracking what files belong to what apps. Free. Can't find a URL. Get it at PalmGear.com
• Khroma to define color schemes if you have a color unit. Also no URL. Free.
• PMT to track expenses. Very serious software. Not free. Well worth it. I use it to keep track of expenses. Also, I maintain a second database just for tracking miles.
• TideTool If you're a sailor you can use this to keep all the tide charts on hand. No more Eldredge Tide Charts.
• TinySheet4 is a very workable excel-like spreadsheet. There has been considerable discussion about Iambic's business ethics of late. I'm still using their spreadsheet. I'f you like other ones, I won't be offended.
• TealPaint for the pictures you need to draw.
• Now come the hacks. Hacks are what make your HackMaster (or in my case X-Master) actually do stuff.
  • CaseToggleHack This defines a very easy-to-learn and yet hard-to-describe system of tapping on words to fool around with their case. I like it a lot. Free.
  • MiddleCapsHack This defines margins on your alpha area. If your letter starts in the margin, the letter is uppercase. Very cool. Done by the same guiy who did CaseToggleHack.
  • DSHack. Twice a year, this will automatically adjust your clock.
  • McPhling. This is very handy. It throws up a menu of the last ten apps you ran and can switch to the previous app.
  • Silence If I take notes while I'm in bed, I better not wake Krystine up. This shuts off all sounds during specified intervals of the day. Mine is quiet from 9PM to 6AM.
  • TealEcho This is a great thing to let you see what you're stroking. You can actually see an enlarged version of how you're screwing letters up. It really helps your grafitti.
  • Crash Auto reboot if you crash.
  • FindHack. A far superior find over the builtin app.
  • TickHack Every letter will click. Nice audio feedback.

Screen Protectors

I use WriteRight from Concept Kitchen. (Their web site seems to be gone but they're available everywhere.)

Also, this guy looks good. I'd be curious to hear what anyone thinks of these if you order them.

Stylus Stuff