What does PowerRun do?

[dramsey]

OK, I know, dumb question: it lets you run apps from a Memory Stick.

But I can do that already with SilverScreen. In fact, I can do it without SilverScreen: move an app to the MS and run it.

What does PowerRun do that the standard ability to run an app from MS doesn't?

[oneeyesquare]

Doesn't it actually run the apps from the stick, rather than transfer them back into RAM? I know that Netfront cannot be transfered back into RAM, it has to be reinstalled....and Powerrun is touted for it's ability to run Netfront off the stick.
I use Zlauncher which just transfers the app from the stick into RAM. It takes an extra couple seconds, but not a bother, IMO. I almost bought Powerrun except that Jackflash came along....

[hansschmucker]

oneeyesquare, you're answer is a little confusing, so I'll try again:

PalmOS cannot run ANY application of memory stick, and no third-party application can change that.

However, PalmOS itself as well as many launchers can copy the PRC (that's what exe is for windows) from the MemoryStick, launch it, and delete it afterwards.

However an application often does include more files then just the PRC. That's when PowerRun steps in. It saves the PRC as well as any data stored in different files (PDB) to the MemoryStick and creates a file that will launch PowerRun and tell it which program you want to start. It will then copy and launch that application.

AND NOW COMES THE IMPORTANT PART:
When you exit that application, it will check which files have been altered and save those back to memorystick!

This way you've always got all application data on MS, not just the main file.

Hope you can make any sense of what I just said.

[oneeyesquare]

Wasn't quite an answer, but thanks for the clarification anyway...;)
So Powerrun has the ability to transfer the Netfront .prc into RAM, but Zlauncher doesn't (or any other launcher I know of ). What is better with Powerrun that allows it to do this?

[n2ifp]

I also don't know how PowerRun runs my most favorite application, but I don't care :D!

One additional item that I didn't see mentioned. PowerRun also allows clie apps to synchronize with the desktop apps.

Always install in RAM first, then use PowerRun to move the apps to the memory stick.

In OS4.x PiDirect allowed apps to run directly from the memory stick and read only databases. Unfortunately it doesn't work on Palm OS5 devices.

[oneeyesquare]

If it Hotsyncs apps on the stick, I may just buy it.... Cuz that'd be handy!

[rmoss]

n2ifp,

I installed PowerRun yesterday after deciding I wanted more available RAM. I thought the instructions specifically said that you could not hotsync the apps moved to the memorystick. I know that I got a bunch of log messages saying that the databases couldn't be found for syncing when I hotsynced after moving the apps with PowerRun.

[n2ifp]

True, there are some apps it doesn't work on, one is Worldmate.

Did you tap update shortcuts in PowerRun?

The Hot Sync Manager scans the RAM for matching creator ID's for the conduits to Hot Sync to. The shortcuts provide a path to the app on the memory stick via the shortcut stub with the same creator ID as the app.

What it does say in the instructions is the apps and db's on the memory stick are NOT backed up during a Hot Sync.

[jettie1767]

I have zlauncher myself. Is PowerRun a replacement of zlauncher?

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by jettie1767
I have zlauncher myself. Is PowerRun a replacement of zlauncher?

No, not really. They can be used together though. ZL will launch apps from the card by copying the app to memory like PowerRun does, but not the associated databases. This is where PowerRun shines, the databases are also copied to RAM. Then the databases are updated and returned back to the memory stick, while the app in RAM is deleted.

I use ZL and PowerRun, it's just another app that creates the icons and shortcuts in ZLauncher that were moved to folders on the memory stick.   

[rmoss]

I updated the shortcuts, but the hotsync log still says that my db's were deleted from the handheld and it moves the backup copies to the archive directory. This is from the PowerRun documentation:

When an application is moved to the Memory Card, there will be some change in functionality (Exactly like the m50X series' built in function) as detailed below. If you do not like these changes, do not move the application to the Memory Card.

Hot Sync will not backup that application and its data
Global find cannot find data in that application, except when the application is running
Application alarms will not come up
Application conduits will not work


If the conduits will not work, then how can there be a hotsync for the application? Granted, if the app is on the memory stick, then it isn't really necessary that you back it up, but to hotsync you are supposed to copy it back to RAM.