Ironing Out the Kinks

I’m a fan of Palm and the Palm OS; however, there are a few things that really bug me.  This week I will cover some of my pet peeves.

Drive Mode

One of my favorite features of the Tungsten T5 and LifeDrive Mobile Manager is Drive Mode.  When the handheld is connected to the computer via the HotSync cable or cradle and Drive Mode is enabled, the Palm presents itself to a Macintosh or Windows computer as a removable drive.   What I really like is when Drive Mode is turned on the inserted SD or MMC card are also mounted along with the internal storage partition.  This gives you access to the internal storage area and the expansion card all in one spot.

My question is why has Palm dropped this useful application from new devices such as the Palm TX and the Treo 700p?  I have a card reader attached to my home PC and when I get to the office I have to connect a portable card reader to my laptop before I can move the files on to the computer.  When I was carrying my LifeDrive or T5 to work, it was much easier to connect the Palm to the HotSync cable and move the files over without having to pull out and setup the portable card reader.   An alternative solution is to use Softick Card Export II, which does essentially the same thing.  Why should we have to purchase additional software for a feature that Palm has already developed?  Why not continue to use Drive Mode and the LifeDrive/Tungsten T5 Manager with newer handhelds?

Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager

I use the Palm Desktop application as my personal information manager.  I like Palm Desktop's simplified interface.  Sure, I can use Microsoft Outlook 2003, but there are just so many features in there that are of little or no use to me, why should I bother?  One problem with Palm Desktop is that it lacks the Anniversary field.  The Contacts application, version 1.3 and later, has a new field, Anniversary that functions just like the Birthday field except that it helps guys remember their wedding anniversaries.  This feature is well worth the price of the Treo 700p alone and the Anniversary field should be added to a future edition of Palm Desktop.  But there are other more urgent issues that need to be addressed with Palm Desktop.

The current versions of Palm Desktop do not work with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Professional x64 edition, and Tablet PC edition (Palm KB article 37448).  This is a problem because the home computer is quickly becoming the hub for digital entertainment in the family and living rooms.  The inability to HotSync your Palm OS handheld to your media center enabled, 64-bit CPU or tablet PC will make it harder for you to synchronize the information and media on your computer with your handheld and smartphone. 

Even more troubling are reports coming in from early technology adopters who are reporting caompatibility issues with computers that run dual core CPUs.  [Dual core computers have essentially two CPUs on a single chip.]  Customers trying to use Palm Desktop 4.2 with dual core CPU systems are reporting that they are only able to HotSync their devices via Wi-Fi.  If this is in fact a new wrinkle in how the USB sub-system works on dual core systems, this issue will should be addressed before the holiday season when people are include purchasing new computers for themselves and their families.

This problem isn’t completely Palm’s fault.  The Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager, like the Palm OS, are now controlled by ACCESS/PalmSource.  It is up to both companies to develop solutions and workarounds for the limitations in the current versions of Palm Desktop.  Perhaps it is time to change the synchronization methodology from the current form to the new open-source format based on XML known as SyncML.  Before being acquired by ACCESS, PalmSource had stated that SyncML was supposed to be the technology that was to replace the HotSync Manager.  Another option could be to develop or license a replacement application for use on Windows machines similar to Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS that Mac users have been using for years to overcome deficiencies in the Macintosh version of Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager.

Getting It Right Out of the Box

As a long time Palm handheld user, I tend to look at the features in Palm’s PDAs and then compare them to those features found in the Treo family of devices.  One feature that I miss on my Treo 700p is the wallpaper background in the Palm OS application launcher.  I tend to use my Treo more a mobile computer than a cell phone and I spend more of my time in the launcher rather in the Phone application.  It would be nice to have my favorite pictures back in the application launcher again.

Palm handhelds are also being used as ebook readers, mp3 players, and personal video players.  This is really empowering users to use there devices not just for business but for entertainment as well.  If you are going to use your Palm device during “downtime” in your day, like when you are waiting in line or in a doctor’s office, you need to make sure that you aren’t being disruptive to others.  To that end, Palm should consider adding in support for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, also known as A2DP, into future handhelds and smartphones.  A2DP devices will allow you to redirect the audio from your Treo 700p to your Bluetooth headset for example.  That way, you can see and hear the multimedia content on your Palm and the people next to you don’t have to.  A short-term solution could also be to include the Treo Stereo Headphone Adapter in the box with all new Treo units.   That way, customers can use a spare pair of headphones they already own without having to buy anything else.

Conclusion

Despite some of these issues, I am still a fan of Palm and their products.  These issues will get resolved in time.  The only question is how much time.  We know that Palm is still very much committed to supporting the Palm OS platform and is working with ACCESS/PalmSource to reach a new licensing and distribution agreement.  Let’s hope those negotiations are wrapped up quickly and Palm and ACCESS/PalmSource can get back to making the great software we’ve all come to know and enjoy.