Installation feed?

[Mr Flibble]

On my Zaurus SL5500 you could install applications from media like SD or CF but you could also install from a network feed. This was kind of a http directory listing with packages and descriptions. The benefit for me was that I could use the Zaurus without a PC and install/remove stuff and just backup onto removable media.

I'm using a PC at home less and less and thinking about buying a UX50 with it WiFi and it would be even better if I didn't need to touch my PC at home by using this "feed" type installation mechanism. I know I can hotsync via WiFi but I still need to sit at a PC download the app, unpack and use the install tool and then hotsync right?

Anyone seen a 3rd party app they may achieve something similar? It would be great for me because I sit in fornt of a PC all day at work and really don't need or want to do so from home and when I do I'm just checking email brwosing web/forums etc...

[AndyMac]

I can download software directly from PalmGear, unzip it on my UX50 and copy over to RAM without a PC using the WiFi internet connection.

The built in ClieFiles program has the ability to unzip files and the same program can be used to copy the file to RAM.

[himitsu]

PalmGear also have "StreamLync" to install directly from the site.

[Mr Flibble]

Originally posted by himitsu
PalmGear also have "StreamLync" to install directly from the site.

Thanks for the info but this is not what I was referring to. I want the ability to install apps directly to the UX from the UX (using browser on UX etc...) Andymac is on the right path, a workaround but not as effective as an install feed like referred to in my initial post.

[AndyMac]

I don't understand this "install feed" thing. If you are talking about something where you can click on an http link and have it download directly to RAM and be ready to run, even PC's barely have that. If you DL an .EXE file you can usually click on open to install instead of saving to disk but with .ZIP files you still have to DL, open it and then install stuff.
It's no more difficult with the UX50. You download the Zip, open it and copy the files to RAM (thus installing them).
And it sounds like you would still need a PC to setup your "http directory" that you mentioned in your original post.

[Mr Flibble]

Originally posted by AndyMac
I don't understand this "install feed" thing. If you are talking about something where you can click on an http link and have it download directly to RAM and be ready to run, even PC's barely have that. If you DL an .EXE file you can usually click on open to install instead of saving to disk but with .ZIP files you still have to DL, open it and then install stuff.
It's no more difficult with the UX50. You download the Zip, open it and copy the files to RAM (thus installing them).
And it sounds like you would still need a PC to setup your "http directory" that you mentioned in your original post.

Installing apps on the Zaurus can be done a few different ways but essentially it is not dissimilar to any rpm manager under Linux. You setup a number of entries in your rpm manager lets call it "SonyRPM" application running on the UX and define a few source locations to search for available packages/apps. One may search your CF/SD or MS and another couple maybe network points using a URL like http://somedomain/~UXFEED. This "install feed" is essentially a directory listing and a single text file adhering to an agreed format that has the app name/size/description/version and dependencies. The package manager reads this can download a given app/package uncompress it and install it one pass. The downloaded compressed component may be a package that consists of two parts. Some sort of script that uncompressed the second component and sets up and required pdb prc entries etc...

I may have to get busy of the Christmas holidays and set myself a project once I get my UX.