• Uncategorized

    Metaviewsoftware Twitter Client for Palm OS

    September 3, 2009 /

    Clemens Schuchert, the host of the PUGcast – Sync Your Ears podcast, has a new article posted about a new Twitter client for Palm OS-based PDA handhelds and smartphones that is under development. Kind of timely since Smartphone Fanatics has recently started a Twitter feed as @spf360.

    Mr. Schuchert writes:

    “Metaviewsoft is currently working on a full featured twitter client for the PalmOS platform. For less than a week the Berlin based software brewery has implemented the twitter core functions and is doing some tricky API usage to display your tweets and those of your your subscriptions nicely on the PalmOS screen. I say PalmOS screen rather than Treo’s or Centro’s Screen, because reducing it to smartphones would not be fully true. Due to the fact that the new twitter client “2TwitMe” do support screen rotation it will surely become the first choice for all the PalmTX’ out there very soon, because of the built-in WLAN functionality, it’s bigger screen, a gorgeous on-screen-thumbboard replacement, etc.”

    Keep reading…

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  • motionapps,  palm desktop,  pre

    MotionApps Demos HotSync Support for Classic

    September 3, 2009 /

    MotionApps, the company behind the Palm OS 5 emulation software for webOS, has posted a new video to YouTube to demonstrate the upcoming support for HotSync.

    In the video, Motion shows how you will be able to HotSync the Classic software to Palm Desktop on your computer using a Wi-Fi connection. In the video, the person leading the demonstration appears to be using Palm Desktop 6.2 by ACCESS, not the older, Palm Desktop 4.1.4 or 4.2 that shipped with some of Palm’s most popular PDA handhelds and Centro smartphone.

    I’ve purchased a copy of Classic because I’ve come to rely on DataViz Passwords Plus for keeping my personal data secure and available to me all the time. When the Wi-Fi HotSync feature comes to Classic I’ll be looking to resume using the Passwords Plus desktop application to help manage my personal data.

    Check out the MotionsApps Classic HotSync demo on YouTube or click the video below.

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  • apple,  appletv

    Apple iPod Event – Will Jobs Make an Appearance?

    September 2, 2009 /

    After weeks of rumors and wild speculation by almost everyone, it is clear that on September 9 Apple will be talking about new iPods, iTunes 9, and possibly a hardware or software update to Apple TV.

    Interestingly, what has taken on a life of its own is whether or not Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs will take the helm and deliver the presentation and product demos or will Apple chose to bring out SVP of Product Marketing Phil Schiller or COO Tim Cook who took on the role of acting CEO while Mr. Jobs was on his medical leave earlier this year.

    Personally, I think there is a 50/50 chance that Mr. Jobs will make an appearance at the event to kick off and wrap up the presentation. If Mr. Jobs doesn’t run the presentation, I would expect to see Mr. Schiller take on the presentation chores as he has done in the past.

    The bottom line is that I like watching Steve Jobs hock is ‘wares, but what I’m more interested in is seeing what new features will added to the iPod touch and the Apple TV.

    On the top of my list for the iPod touch is the addition of a 3.0MP digital camera and the inclusion of a GPS radio. On the Apple TV front, I’d like to see Apple add a TiVo-like TV show recording feature that will record the show to the local hard disk and then transfer down to iTunes on a Mac or PC. It would be really cool if the exiting Apple TV hardware could do that (since I have one), but I suspect that for a TiV0-like feature to become available on Apple TV, it will require a hardware change to add a line-in connection.

    What would you like to see Apple add to the iPod and Apple TV? Let us know in the Comments section below.

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  • t-mobile

    T-Mobile Raising Overage Rates

    September 2, 2009 /

    BoyGeniusReport.com has a new post indicating that T-Mobile is raising their rates when you go over your monthly allotments of voice minutes.

    BGR writes:

    “As of [9/1/09], T-Mobile is raising its overage rates to 45¢ per minute on individual plans under $59.99 and family plans under $89.99, and 40¢ per minute for plans above those price points. Since this rate increase is carrier-invoked and it constitutes a “materially adverse change of contract,” subscribers will be able to flee without the need to pay a hefty Early Termination Fee.”


    The good news is that you will be able to get out of your contract without having to deal with that annoying early contract termination fee. The bad news is that you’re going to have to work hard to get out of your contract.

    Read the full article on BoyGeniusReport.com…

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  • rumors,  sprint,  verizon

    Rumor: Palm Working on New Smartphones for Verizon, Sprint

    August 31, 2009 /

    I’m still catching up on the week’s news after having spent most of last week on vacation. PreCentral.net has two screen shots posted that indicate that Palm is working on new devices headed for Verizon and Sprint.

    Speculation is that Verizon and Palm could be working on bringing both the Pre and the Eos (aka: Pixie).

    “What’s important to you is that there are two Palm devices listed in this inventory system. Yes, two: the Palm P101VZW and Palm P121VZW. Considering that we know the Sprint Pre to be the P100, it seems reasonable to assume that the P101 is the Pre for Verizon, though we have no clue if the number bump means that the hardware has been changed. And P121? There’s only one other upcoming Palm device that we’ve heard of, and that’s the Eos, presumably the P121 indeed will be the smaller slate-style webOS phone.”

    On the Sprint front, the screen shot shows three devices: the P100 (the currently shipping Pre), the P120, and the C40. Popular opinion is that P120 is either a hardware refresh of the current Pre (more memory anyone?) or is the Eos candy bar webOS device that will take hardware queues from the Centro and the Treo Pro.

    What the C40 might be is anyone’s guess. It could be a new Windows Mobile phone. It could be a new webOS phone. Or, dare I even mention it, the C40 could be something else entirely with an EVDO radio built in to it. (cough Foleo II cough netbook cough)

    One thing is for sure; we will have our answers one way or another in due time.

    [Via PreCentral.net…]

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  • att

    AT&T to Require Data Plans

    August 30, 2009 /

    Starting on September 6, 2009, AT&T will require that customers who chose to purchase a smartphone also purchase a data plan in addition to their voice and text messaging plans.

    In a recent statement issued by AT&T, a company spokesperson reported:

    “Smartphone users tend to consume a higher amount of data services, like advanced e-mail, mobile Web, applications and more,” an AT&T press release stated. “Being able to take full advantage of these features without having to worry about a fluctuating or unusually high bill generally leads to greater customer satisfaction, so effective Sept. 6, smartphone customers will need to subscribe to a data plan, as the vast majority of customers already do.”

    If you currently have an AT&T branded smartphone you will be able to continue using your phone as you always have. However, if “[you] update your device or want to make changes to your account, [you] will have to bring their accounts current, which in some cases may include subscribing to a data plan.”

    The requirement for a data plan isn’t something new for AT&T. There are some devices that the wireless company already requires a data plan for, which includes the wildly popular Apple iPhone.

    If you have been thinking about upgrading your AT&T smartphone and hoped to keep the data plan off your monthly bill, you should get yourself down to an AT&T store before September 6 when then new Terms of Service rules go into effect.

    [Via PCMag.com…]

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  • apple,  mac os x,  markspace,  pre

    Upgrading to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

    August 30, 2009 /

    This past Friday, Apple unleashed the latest version of Mac OS X, 10.6 Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard looks amazingly a lot like Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which is one of the reasons why Apple is only charging $29 for the OS upgrade. While Snow Leopard may not look very different from Leopard, the latest Mac OS X upgrade from Apple focuses on enhancements to the OS code rather than flashy new features.

    Palm users, specifically those who are using Palm OS 5 and earlier devices, will want to take note of the changes in the latest release of Mac OS X.
    As previously reported, Apple is no longer supporting the Palm OS sync conduit in the iSync software. If you want to continue to sync your Palm OS 5 and earlier device with Apple’s built-in PIM applications, you will need to purchase, or upgrade, to the latest version of Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS. As with every operating system upgrade, not everything transitions to the new operating system 100% cleanly. Mark/Space is reporting minor incompatibilities with their Mac OS production, which includes the Missing Sync for Palm OS. To help customers get everything working correctly again, Mark/Space has posted a Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard software compatibility matrix.
    When installing Snow Leopard on my 2007 while MacBook, I was informed that parts of Palm Desktop 4.2.1 Rev D required the installation of the Mac OS X Rosetta module. Rosetta is the Apple module that allows you to run older applications written for the PowerPC platform on Macs that have Intel chips inside. Since I ‘m using a Palm Pre these days, I chose to not install the Rosetta software and instead uninstalled Palm Desktop from my Mac.
    And speaking of the Palm Pre, I had no trouble mounting the Pre’s storage volume to my Mac’s desktop to copy files to and from the phone. I was also able to sync the Pre to iTunes 8.2.1 using the Media Sync feature; however that may change on September 9, when Apple is expected to unveil iTunes 9 along side new iPod models.
    I should also mention that Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is the first version of Apple’s Mac OS X that only supports Macintosh computers that have Intel processors. If your Mac has “Power” in the name, like PowerMac G5, this is a not-t0-subtle hint that it is time to upgrade your Mac.
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  • apple,  mac os x,  palm,  palm os

    No Palm OS Conduit in Snow Leopard iSync

    August 25, 2009 /

    Mac fan undoubtedly know that this coming Friday Apple will let the cat out of the bag as it where, and release Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

    Fan site AppleInsider.com recently posted:

    “Apple has discontinued support for legacy Palm OS devices in Mac OS X Snow Leopard’s iSync 3.1.0, according to sources familiar with the latest Gold Master build, requiring users of Palm OS devices to obtain third party support for syncing their Palm Desktop information with Mac OS X’s Sync Services.”

    I’m not really surprised that Apple is cutting ties with the old Palm OS conduit. Palm themselves have also halted development of products based on Palm OS so it makes little sense for Apple to continue supporting the Palm OS conduit in their iSync product. Additionally, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will be the first version of Mac OS X that will not include support for Apple’s own PowerPC-based PowerMac and PowerBook models.

    For Palm users who are also Mac users, I would suggest switching from Apple’s iSync software to Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS. The Missing Sync will allow you to sync with Address Book, iCal, Entourage, iPhoto, and iTunes. You can learn more about the Missing Sync on the Mark/Space website.

    Read the full AppleInsider article…

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