Why isn't everyone upset there isn't a flash upgrade??

[Lorne Tontegode]

I recently (yesterday) installed Jackflash and love it. It has however made me wonder further about something that has always bugged me.

Why is Sony taking up my valuable memory with updates to applications rather than flashing them into my NZ? I suppose that I know just enough about RAM and ROM to make me dangerous but isn't it possible to send out a Flash access program with the updates (bug fixes to preinstalled applications) so that they overwrite the existing apps?

I noticed this when I tried to use Jackflash to move some updates to Flash memory and it told me that it couldn't because a file aready existed with the same name. Isn't there some enterprising company out there that can write a program to overwrite the file and get it out of my RAM?

[tnhh]

Jacksprat (http://www.brayder.com/products/jacksprat.html)?

[Lorne Tontegode]

My underestanding is that Jacksprat will allow you to remove languages. Are you inferring that it can remove the old camera application and allow me to write the new application to Flash ROM?

If yes, I will buy it now.

[tnhh]

JackSprat will let you remove any application from flash. Or at least it did with my T615. I haven't used it recently since it doesn't work with my TH55.

[CliePet]

>If yes, I will buy it now.
NO.

There is no JackSprat for the NZ90, just JackFlash. Don't hold your breath expecting them or anyone else to support the Palm OS 5 CLIEs.

> Why is Sony taking up my valuable memory with updates to applications rather than flashing them into my NZ?
Long story, but Sony doesn't provide flash upgrades for any models. There was one historical exception that was heavily pirated.

> I suppose that I know just enough about RAM and ROM to make me dangerous but isn't it possible to send out a Flash access program with the updates (bug fixes to preinstalled applications) so that they overwrite the existing apps?

Technically many things are possible. There are support and marketing reasons not to. Sony's decision not to support flash upgrades has been covered to death on past threads.

The PalmOne devices (like the Tungsten T3) have a full flash update downloadable from their site. Full flash upgrades are more common in the PocketPC world.

> I noticed this when I tried to use Jackflash to move some updates to Flash memory and it told me that it couldn't because a file aready existed with the same name.
I suggest trying again.
I have most of the system updates for my NZ90 in JackFlash Flash storage: update CLIE Files, Viewer, Camera app, CF drivers, printer drivers etc
I don't find it to be a problem.

So to summarize: JackFlash is all but essential for use on the NZ90. Well worth the money IMHO.
JackSprat does not work on the NZ90

[Lorne Tontegode]

Well, I installed Jackflash and it is definitely a must have application.

However, I am still upset about the flash utility. Every update that I put on my NZ sits in RAM. I have tried to move some with Powerrun but they don't work.

That means that there is one in flash (the old one) and one in my precious RAM, and some of these are huge. I find this completey wrong.

Isn't there someone out there that can write a program for accessing the flash memory. It can't be that tough. There is already a flash utility (Jacksprat) that works on older systems and Jackflash can access the flash area on the NZ.

[CliePet]

> I am still upset about the flash utility. Every update that I put on my NZ sits in RAM.

See my comments above - you should be able to move many of the updates to JackFlash ROM. This means there will be two copies in ROM, the original version (in the original ROM image) and the update (in JackFlash).
No RAM will be used up

NOTE: not all updates work this way, some must run from RAM. If RAM is more precious to you, don't install the updates (not all of them are required)

> It can't be that tough.
Short answer: It is tough.
The PalmOS5 ROM image layout can not be rearranged willy-nilly.
[older versions like Palm OS 4 are much easier]

Even for the mainstream Palm T3, where there is official JackSprat supported, you can remove only a few things (ie. not individual drivers)