my first pda ever, and i'm confused.

[luag]

Good day to you all.

I just got a second hand TH55.
Frankly, Palm os kinda confuses me.
So, even after reading some threads, im not sure ive fully understand everything.

I've got some basic questions:
1. What is a launcher?
2. How to uninstall programs?
3. What is the best software to read ebooks, mp3 playback?
4. any other useful programs that i should look into?
edit: 5. How to do :command: ?

thank you very much :)

[Cyker]

Welcome to the 'board! :D

1) The Launcher is the thing that you run programs with.
If you are using the TH55 in 'stock' mode, with the Clie Organiser as your main screen, then you can access the Launcher by tapping the Applications tab on the right hand side.

I personally dislike using the Clie Organiser as the main scree, and far prefer the original PalmOS Launcher - It's plain, but very easy to use.
It's a bit long-winded to change, but if you want instructions just ask ;) (Or read the manual!)

2) There isn't an easy way of doing this in the Clie Organiser, but with the PalmOS Launcher and the ClieLauncher (Both alternative launcher programs in the TH55) it's usually Menu->App->Delete

3) ebooks: iSilo or Plucker (IMHO)
mp3 playback: Clie AudioPlayer (Built in to the TH55)
videos: TCPMP

4) I'm sure others will post lots of suggestions! :D

5) To do a / swipe, just literally write that in the graffiti area! (You may need to press the blue Up arrow in the bottom-right corner to bring up the graffiti area)

HTH!

[luag]

Thank you for the welcome :) and answers :D

1. So...what is Zlauncher i see on other threads?
2. I'll read it then :D or maybe there's already a thread about it?
3. - i added plucker, but how to open files from it? :/
- and i have difficulties playing mp3 with the audioplayer. it keeps on saying that it cant play mp3 files because of copyright bla bla bla :(
- is TCPMP free?
4. I'll wait :D
5. can i do it from decuma?


new question: 6. Can i run files directly from file browser? (like double-clicking it on windows or something?)

[DanT]

Hmm, what is ZLauncher, you say? It is not only a launcher with whatever background you would like to have, but also has other capabilities similar to McPhling, PowerRUN, AppIcon, CLIEFiles, and Today. Here are a few screenshots to wet your appetite :D

http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949DSC02117.jpghttp://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949SharkLinks2.jpg
http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949DSC01474.JPG

[Joel]

Welcome to 1src, luag. As you can see, help is already available. If members cannot answer your question as fast as you want, you can also try to do a Search (under the Welcome line in the upper right part of the page.)

Congrats on your new PDA, good luck, and have fun!

[DanT]

More answers to your questions:

To read ebooks, I use the free version of eReader (http://www.ereader.com/product/detail/15002?software=eReader_for_Palm_OS).

To listen to MP3, I use the built-in AudioPlayer. I rip MP3 off my CD collections with RealJukeBox that came in my old CLIE N760C installation CD. It requires a constant bitrate of 44.1kHz at 92 kbps.

You can launch the command bar ("/") by doing the forward-slash stylus-swipe from any where on the status bar up to the screen, regardless the virtual graffiti screen is up or down.

You can tap on .prc and .txt files displayed in your MS folder tab.

[luag]

wow....zlauncher looks really cool!

i'll search for it :D

thx a lot guys :D

"McPhling, PowerRUN, AppIcon, CLIEFiles, and Today"
someone kind enought to give a brief rundown about these applications? ^^;

again thx

[DanT]

Do a little finger exercise and do 1src search or Google it or browse the good-old Tankerbob's PDA Page (http://www.tankerbob.com/palm/). ;)

McPhling - see the bottom-right popup of my last screenshot.
Appicon - for changing application icons.
CLIE Files - you got it, but ZLauncher file manager is much better.
Today - like it says, see my first screenshot.

[dragonsgames]

The Audio files for the Clie can be more than 92KBPS, it can be up to 128KBPS.

[DanT]

It can go as low as 64 kbps too, according to this ITS-RTC Technical Report A.61346 (http://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/tech/ITS_test_report.pdf), but it sounds crappy. For more detail, read hpmoon's post #20 of this thread (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109629&page=2&pp=15). At 92kbps, my ear can't tell the difference in sound quality between the MP3 and the actual WMA from the CD, but the MP3 made a huge space saving. I can fit 3-hour long MP3 in 128MB. I'm sure you get less when you rip them at 128 kbps.

[Cyker]

Thank you for the welcome :) and answers :D

1. So...what is Zlauncher i see on other threads?
2. I'll read it then :D or maybe there's already a thread about it?
3. - i added plucker, but how to open files from it? :/
- and i have difficulties playing mp3 with the audioplayer. it keeps on saying that it cant play mp3 files because of copyright bla bla bla :(
- is TCPMP free?
4. I'll wait :D
5. can i do it from decuma?


new question: 6. Can i run files directly from file browser? (like double-clicking it on windows or something?)

1) ZLauncher is a third-party Super Uber Launcher :D
It has ridiculous amounts of features and has things like skinning support and background pictures.
Lots of people like it, and there is lots of support :)
I find it a bit scary personally as it is very cluttered, but then I like the plain old boring PalmOS Launcher :D

2) There may bee... erm... anyway, to switch to the standard PalmOS Launcher from Clie Organiser, you have to tap the Menu icon (Next to the Home icon at the bottom; Looks like a tiny house), then:
Select Options->Clie Org Prefs
Uncheck "Assign to Home"
Tap the Home icon (The tiny house) and you'll now get the Clie Launcher. Play around with it; If you don't like it, tap the Menu icon again (Next to the house one) and then Options->Goto Standard View.

3)Documents: You need to encode your documents into a format Plucker can read, then either HotSync them into the TH55, or copy them onto the right place on a MemoryStick.
If you want to read things like Word and Acrobat Documents etc., there is a nifty program called PicselViewer on your TH55. It's a bit slow 'tho...

MP3:
The ClieAudio Player is VEEEERY picky!
Your MP3's HAVE to be 44.1kHz and Constant BitRate (CBR).
They can be any actual bitrate, from 32kbps up to 256kbps, but they HAVE to be 44.1kHz and CBR.
So 22kHz and 32kHz won't work, and Variable BitRate MP3s also won't work!
Can be Stereo or Mono.

TCPMP:
Yes, it is free! :D
It can also play lots of different musics, MP3, OGG etc., without the limitations of the Clie Audio Player.
The Clie player's main advantages over TCPMP is that it can play in the background, has very clean sound quality, and that it uses tiny amounts of power - It has a longer replay time than an iPod! :D
But otherwise, TCPMP is better...

5) Short answer: No.
Longer Answer: As Dan says, you can do the swipe from the Status Bar (The thing with the battery and memorystick icons), BUT in Decuma it is pretty useless unless you just want to tap on the icons for cut/copy/paste etc.

6) Ehhh.... sortof... there are alternative Launchers like ZLauncher and RescoExplorer that simulate this behaviour, but because of the way PalmOS works it is not such a popular way of doing things ;)

[luag]

thank you very much for the help :D

one more question: is there a way to charge TH55 from USB?

[DanT]

Get this eBay's Item number: 9720664500 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Clie-PEG-TG50-TH55-Retractable-Sync-Charge-Cable_W0QQitemZ9720664500QQcategoryZ48666QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). It's only for $9 including shipping. I got one of those and it works great for charging and hotsync. With JAmerican's MS driver, your TH55 becomes a 2GB jumpdrive (SCSI mass Storage driver from Installation CD is longer needed to be loaded to your XP). With dmitrygr's FAT32 MS driver, your TH55 becomes a 4GB jumpdrive. What other PDA that can do that? ;)

http://images.amazonwebhosting.net/mp809/img_p/mp_pdar_sony1_pak_2in1_g1_l.jpg

[DanT]

Here is my other home-made, super-compact, HotSync, charger, Jumpdrive travel adapter in action. :D

http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949TH55_480x320.JPG

[dragonsgames]

LOL, most of your emails are "Reply to post..." emails, too. :D ;)
Anyway... too bad 4GB MS are still expensive. It will make it a very expensive 4GB Jump Drive. And, BTW, the 4GB card DOES NOT WORK with Sony apps :( (but will with TCPMP and Pocket Tunes, etc.)

[luag]

awww....
i think the shipping cost will be much higher to get it to indonesia :(

any tutorial to make one? :/

[DanT]

Apa kabar? ;)

If you really want to do this, here is the tutorial (Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any damage to your device. It works for me, but I don't know your electrical proficiency, so you take your own risk):
1. Look over the following pinout spec (http://www.leggnet.com/clie/NX70body2.pdf). There are 18 pins in the diagram and 20 pins in the actual CLIE connector. Don't count the first and last actual pins.
2. Look over my compact USB-CLIE connector picture, below. Pin # 1 (GND) is the one the right end and pin # 18 (GND) is on the left, connected to pin # 17 (CNT) with a 220kOhm.
3. Look at the USB from the bottom end (if you can see the pins through 2 square holes, that is the top end, so flip it over to the bottom end, where you see nothing but white ceramic base in the square holes, as shown in the picture, below). There are 4 wires. From RIGHT to LEFT, pin #1 is black for GND (USB ground or -), pin #2 is green for D+ (USB Data +), pin #3 is white for D- (USB Data -), and pin #4 is red for DC +(DC5.2V power or + ).
4. Connect CLIE pin #1, 4, and 18 to USB pin #1.
5. Connect CLIE pin #5, 7, 8 to USB pin #4.
6. Connect CLIE pin #2 to USB pin #2.
7. Connect CLIE pin #3 to USB pin #3.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

If anyone interested in having one, but don't feel like doing it yourself, I have 2 extra such home-made stubby USB-CLIE adapters for sale for $10 including shipping in US.

http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949USB-CLIE.JPG

[luag]

Kabar baik :D

the reason i asked is because i want to be able to charge the TH55 using a charger that uses AA batteries.

now..if i can get all the tools ready....

btw, if i use high capacity MS (1gb/2gb) will it slow down the TH55?
(maybe when the ms is almost full?)

[dragonsgames]

No, it shouldn't slow down.
You can use a PEGA-BC10, which charges with 4AA Batteries about 2 or 3 times :)
Check eBay or Amazon :)

[salesrep]

Yeah--BC10 rocks! I only need it when I'm away from my car or home for an extende length of time, but it works WAY better than and costs WAY less than the EB40 for ux50! (I know, apples to oranges, but they serve the same purpose.)

[luag]

i almost cant believe it, but theres a store who still sold the hotsync cable (+charging)

and i think theres a BC10 equivalent of it. i'll look again tomorrow.

[dragonsgames]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000065BOX/102-5568222-4744937?v=glance&n=172282
WOW, I bought mine for $20 on Amazon.. anyway.. that is a pic :)

[luag]

hm...the one from LinkPlus (quite similar with BC-10)
might cost me around 17 dollars

i hope to get a better deal when i go to the shop :D

[dragonsgames]

Ok, cool. I bought a no-name one on Amazon about a year ago, before the PEGA-BC10, for $15 :)

[luag]

i bought it...and it costs me around 11.5 dollars :)

its almost complete. just need a keyboard :P

and an IR keyboard costs around 30 dollars...is that a good deal?

[LanMan]

Has anyone tried the Boxwave 4AA charger. It looks very simular to the Sony BC10 and can be used with other USB devices as well.

http://www.boxwave.com/products/batteryadapter/index.htm

[luag]

i bought a battery adaptor special for TH55, the Boxwave looks better because you can use it with other devices :)

btw, what is the best software to view PDF files?
i tried DocToGo, but it was too slow :(

[salesrep]

btw, what is the best software to view PDF files?
i tried DocToGo, but it was too slow :(

Doesn't Picsel Viewer handle PDF files? Don't know if it's the best or not, but at least it's native. Also, do a search in this forum for keyboards. There is a lot of info regarding different ones. I use the most recent Palm Universal Wireless keyboard and the Sony KB100. They both have their own advantages to the way they work.

[DanT]

Search for PalmPDF.

[luag]

I might've tried too many programs hahaha. Picsel wont load.

I'll try PalmPDF.

btw...the keyboard i saw was a Chinese one (it uses 1 AAA battery), which costs roughly half from Palm's
^^;
what should i look before i buy a keyboard?

[LanMan]

I really like the Belkin G700's (I bought two on clearance) with Igor Nesterov's G700 driver. You can charge the '55 via an AC10 charge while plugged intp the keyboard - neat!

http://g700.palmoid.com/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006JZYQ/103-5435038-5177444?v=glance&n=172282

[luag]

it looks cool.
i wonder if i can connect it with the battery adaptor for mobility.

i'll look around.
though i think it will be hard to find the item in indonesia :/

wish me luck :D

[dragonsgames]

Nah, you can't use a battery extender to charge it. Even if you had an adapter, I doubt if there would be enough power to charge it going through.

[DanT]

Yes you can. I use 4AA battery extender during a week backpacking in back country. It charged up my TH55. 4x1.65 = 6.6 VDC are enough voltage to drive the current over the 5.2 VDC required by the Li-Ion battery in TH55.

I made the 4AA battery extender myself. You can get the 4AA case from RadioShack, USA for $3.00 and you can get the CLIE connector from PC-mobile (http://pc-mobile.net/connectors.htm), p/n PSTC01, Hong Kong, for $6.00.

[dragonsgames]

Oh, ok. I was wrong... ;)

[DanT]

I connected the TH55 with handheld GPS Garmin eTrex Vista for big screen viewing of where I was, my trails, and waypoints. GPS sucks a lot of battery juice, so you need that 4AA extension badly. ;)

I wish I could get a good cellphone signal there, then I would have been able to get to the internet from my campsite via my TH55/E bluetooth.

[dragonsgames]

I can't get any signal at my house... :rolleyes:
No internet?!?!, how do you survive? :eek:

[LanMan]

it looks cool.
i wonder if i can connect it with the battery adaptor for mobility.

i'll look around.
though i think it will be hard to find the item in indonesia :/

wish me luck :D

If you are referring to the G700 with a batt/adapt, then no you cannot attach it to a battery adapter. The G700 comes with an adapter for you AC10 unit that plugs the AC10 into the keyboard. There is no USB or T-series power connector option. I suppose if you had an USB > AC10 adapter - > DanT? ;)

[DanT]

Has anyone tried the Boxwave 4AA charger. It looks very simular to the Sony BC10 and can be used with other USB devices as well.

http://www.boxwave.com/products/batteryadapter/index.htm

This Boxwave deal is expensive. First you buy the battery externder with USB connector for $20 (after "special" $5 discount) then add the "minisync" (I call it, USB-CLIE adapter) for $15 (after "special" $10 discount) then add the shipping cost for God knows how much.

As I mentioned previously, you can make it yourself with parts from RadioShack and PC-Mobile for less than $15 including shipping. As I mentioned previously, you can get the "minisync" from eBay for $9 including shipping.

If you rather have the stubby USB-CLIE adapter, that can be used, not only for charging, but also for HotSync and DataImport (jumpdrive), I can make one and sell it to you all for $10 including shipping.

I can also make that 4AA or 4AAA (depending how compact you want the case would be) battery extender with CLIE adapter on the other end, instead of USB, for $15 including shipping. If there are enough demands here, I can buy those CLIE connectors in bulk quantity from PC-mobile.

[luag]

I'm curious with my battery usage. Is there a program that can track how much time has passed since i last charge my battery?

thx

[DanT]

BatteryGraph (http://palm.jeroenwitteman.com/BatteryGraph/download.php)

[luag]

thank you.
i've installed it.

after a deep charge (until the "power" light off)

i've used it for 4:32:28
most of the time, with backlight at minimum.
around 15 minutes with wifi on
around 30 minutes for mp3 playback (a lot of my mp3s are vbr, does this affect battery life?)
around half a minute of voice recording
took around 15 photos

and the rest for note taking and read ebooks (switching back and forth between reader and dictionary...quite often, i guess).

and now batetry is at 46...wait...its climbing...now its at 53%

is it good?

thank you.

[DanT]

It's normal. No problemo.

Check how good your battery is by using Battery TIME v1.84 (http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/batterytime.shtml) at 100% brightness. Start with fully charged battery (plug the power to the outlet until the Power red light goes off), of course and report back your result here (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?p=915024#post915024). Be prepared for 4-5 hours of not molesting your TH55. :eek:

[luag]

i'll try...but im not sure when i can part from my new baby for that long :D

[luag]

i'll try...but im not sure when i can part from my new baby for that long :D

btw, what is the best ebook reader software?
i've tried Mobipocket, Plucker, and iSilo
but i'm not fully satisfied with each of them

Mobipocket - nice layout, but startup is quite slow, bothersome for me who switch between reader and dictionary quite often.

Plucker - very light, nice image implementation, great to switch often with dictionary; but no paragraph indentation, etc. and when i change page, last line from the previous page will appear again, it distrupts my reading flow.

iSilo - quite light, keeps the format from my html files nicely; but again, when i change page, last line from previous page reappears. and copying words is not simple.

any other reader that might address all the problems? :(

thanks

[DanT]

Read my answer in post#6 of this thread. ;)

[luag]

ah...can i convert my html files to eReader format with the free version?

thanks