I recently purchased the PalmOne Treo 650, which has the "new universal" connector slot, and is thus incompatible with all previous charging and syncing cables. The cable that is included with the Treo is a hydra-style cable: there is a USB-to-Treo section and a power-to-Treo section, the latter of which plugs into the back of the former so that you charge as you synch. It's a clunky, multi-headed affair. As of this writing there is still no cradle from PalmOne for the 650. But there is a more elegant solution: the Sedio Retractable Sync"N"Charge USB Cable.
This compact cable allows your Treo (and presumably other "new universal" slot devices) to charge from your computer (laptop or desktop) while you are synchronizing your data. The cable, when fully retracted, is about two inches long, making a much smaller addition to the clutter in your bag.
One morning, I realized my Treo was dangerously low on juice after several days without a charge, and I slipped this tiny cable into my jean pocket on the way out the door for a busy day. I stole minutes here and there while roaming the building to plug it in to randomly available USB ports as I hurried about my inter-office travels. By the time lunch came around, and I finally had the chance to sit down and do a proper charge, I no longer needed to worry about my Treo shutting down due to low power, as I had managed to charge it up beyond the 25% "red zone" in the 650's battery indicator!
The only drawback I can see to this accesory is the common weakness of all retractable cables: the flat, thin wires required to compactly spool the cable means that if feels fragile. Past experience with a similar retractable headset cable taught me to deliberately and steadily pull the two ends of the cable away from the center spool at an even rate to avoid jamming or tangling while extending. Also, you should remember with retracting these sorts of cables to make a slight tug and then allow it to spool up casually. Tugging the cable harshly may effect a snappy retraction, but is more likely to result in a tangled cable, or even to break it. The tradeoff for this compact single-thread cable, then, is a requirement to take more care in how you extend and retract it.
I have had no problems synching with this cable, and it is now my exclusive way of charging and synching when away from my home office. Whether you work in an office, or carry a laptop and move about, I recommend you buy the Sync"N"Charge before a car charger or cradle - you may find, as I have, that you really don't need anything more.
January 20, 2005
Updating the website....
I hate having to update things. I can't deal with To Do lists well because they have to be checked off, updated, and otherwise manipulated to keep them current. (Task 1 is now 25% complete. Task 2 is 50% done. Task 3 is finished.) But they do serve a purpose. I am learning more and more that I can let my Palm manage my lists - which it's done for the 6 years or so that I've had it, like the Newton before it. But I'm far from being a project manager type, with mile stones and charts and such. Seems more time is spent updating the lists than doing the work.
And so it is that months go by without an update to the web site. (You knew there was a relationship between this article and the title, didn't you? Thanks for staying with me.) I was reminded Monday night that the web site was a bit out of date. He was being nice. Most of our information sharing takes place in meetings, and they are very random events, for the most part.
This month, however, we have a bit of a surprise. Phi Sanders, member, Treo 650 user, and erstwhile co-worker of yours truly, has written a review of a cable that one of our vendor sponsors sent for that purpose. We've had some swag off and on in the past 18 months, but nothing like in those halcyon days of the dot-com years. So, to do justice to the nice folks at Seiko, who in December came out with a retractable sync cable specifically fitted for the "new universal" connector of the 650, Phi's review will appear as a post here.
But I would like this trend to continue. Are there folks out there writing about topics that we should share here on the TAPIT page? I think so. If you'd like to assist me in managing contributions to the web site, please drop me an email, either here or through the yahoo group link. If you have a blog that covers PDAs and other mobile tech, let me know and I'll make sure I add a feed to your posts here.
A users' group, after all, belongs to the users, not just to the founder of the group. And, who knows? You may benefit from a nice piece of software or the next sample to review.
And so it is that months go by without an update to the web site. (You knew there was a relationship between this article and the title, didn't you? Thanks for staying with me.) I was reminded Monday night that the web site was a bit out of date. He was being nice. Most of our information sharing takes place in meetings, and they are very random events, for the most part.
This month, however, we have a bit of a surprise. Phi Sanders, member, Treo 650 user, and erstwhile co-worker of yours truly, has written a review of a cable that one of our vendor sponsors sent for that purpose. We've had some swag off and on in the past 18 months, but nothing like in those halcyon days of the dot-com years. So, to do justice to the nice folks at Seiko, who in December came out with a retractable sync cable specifically fitted for the "new universal" connector of the 650, Phi's review will appear as a post here.
But I would like this trend to continue. Are there folks out there writing about topics that we should share here on the TAPIT page? I think so. If you'd like to assist me in managing contributions to the web site, please drop me an email, either here or through the yahoo group link. If you have a blog that covers PDAs and other mobile tech, let me know and I'll make sure I add a feed to your posts here.
A users' group, after all, belongs to the users, not just to the founder of the group. And, who knows? You may benefit from a nice piece of software or the next sample to review.
December 20, 2004
Started out at the meeting.....
This is a live post from the meeting. I am typing this into the AvantBlog posting area.
The above was part of showing how AvantBlog works. If you've got a Blogger Account, as well as an AvantGo account, you can blend the two and post quickly and easily from within AvantGo. The single problem I have found with this channel is that syncing requires secure authentication, which sometimes is not available from a public hotspot over AvantGo's wireless sync utility.
We also had a chance to get our eager hands on a Treo 650 (thanks Bill!)
The above was part of showing how AvantBlog works. If you've got a Blogger Account, as well as an AvantGo account, you can blend the two and post quickly and easily from within AvantGo. The single problem I have found with this channel is that syncing requires secure authentication, which sometimes is not available from a public hotspot over AvantGo's wireless sync utility.
We also had a chance to get our eager hands on a Treo 650 (thanks Bill!)
December 09, 2004
November 16, 2004
Panera Bread in Brier Creek
The November 2004 meeting of TAPIT found more than a dozen happy handheld enthusiasts gathered in a formerly quiet corner of this purportedly WiFi enabled restaurant. There was an access point somewhere nearby called PANERA, and everyone got a fairly strong signal, but there were huge gaps in connectivity. Several Palms and laptops never got online at all. A few got on sporadically, but none really enjoyed what I would call full wireless connectivity. I guess this was due to the fact that this place is just on the fringes of the known part of the Internet. Does anyone REALLY live out this far!?!? Sheesh!
That being said, we still had fun. Several folks from Motricity were there, and even brought swag! The main subject of the meeting was a presentation on Facer, a very versatile application that can be downloaded from the link in our listserv for a 25% discount ($15, rather than $21). It's a launcher, a to-do list and appointment reminder, and a file manager all in one. And, as Jeff, our presenter said, it's got some nice eye candy going as well! And that's not always a bad thing.
In addition to Facer, we again went over the requirements of Margi's Presenter Pro. Since we couldn't get online reliably enough to check the web sites, however, we had to rely on what we each had experienced. Guess that's why they call these things user groups!
That being said
In addition to Facer, we again went over the requirements of Margi's Presenter Pro. Since we couldn't get online reliably enough to check the web sites, however, we had to rely on what we each had experienced. Guess that's why they call these things user groups!
September 22, 2004
Report from September meeting
Leave it to us to arrive at Bear Rock on "Teachers Eat Free" night! The line was out the door. For over an hour! Amazing. We did manage to find a corner in back with a power outlet, and finally got Patrick's 15" flat panel connected to my Tungsten|C. Then came the "D'oh!" moment - I had only loaded a single test slide over from my laptop, and didn't bring a sync cable! I had planned to show the Margi Presenter-To-Go, and we all had the right pieces, but, as noted in earlier posts, I had experienced crashing in one of the apps. I had put in a message about this to Margi, after I had checked all versions on their website, of course, but was still having problems. (What I forgot was that I had registered the software using my new gmail account, and since I rarely give that one out, I had forgotten to check it! They had sent back an answer and updated .prc files almost immediately. I tried it tonight and it works perfectly, just like it did with Alan's T|T!)
Getting back to the meeting, I did show that slide, which had been "printed" to the software included with the Presenter-to-go device from AppleWorks. I showed how you can draw on slides by drawing on the Palm, then remove those marks. I later hooked up the laptop and showed how to create a slideshow from any app using the virtual printer-type driver Margi gives you. It's quite a slick little package, all told.
The Mirror app was still crashing, however, even with this smaller monitor. (Previous tests had been with a 19 inch CRT.) This program is supposed to allow you to turn on the display and show any Palm app through the Presenter-To-Go. As a teaching or presenting tool, this is what I had really bought the Presenter-To-Go package for. If I want to run a slideshow, I'm gonna pull out Keynote. I asked Alan (sitting across the table) if he was up to giving the Mirror app a try, and, surprisingly, he accepted. ("This program crashes my Palm every time I run it with the PtG device in it. How about trying it in yours?" That's right up there with "I think this milk is sour. Smell it and tell me what you think.")
I beamed the Mirror app over to his T|T. he pulled out his SD card (very reluctantly), plugged in the Presenter-To-Go, launched Mirror, and - BAM! - there was his screen, larger than llife! He then showed off various little items - graphics in Plucker, the launcher he's using, the datebook, and a cribbage game or two. Cribbage started a rabbit trail that may still be going on - I was the only person there, I think, who did not know how to play. Everyone else not only plays, but had their own favorite cribbage game, and they started beaming them back and forth, and discussing the AI in this one versus this other one. Really high geek factor for a while.
We did come back to earth for a few mintues to talk about moving the group from place to place within the Triangle. Several places were tossed out, and we finally decided on the Bear Rock at University Mall in Chapel Hill for the October meeting. More info will be sent out or posted later, and we may have another couple of places chosen before the next meeting, so we can send out the schedule for several meetings ahead. Hopefully we can dodge the next Teacher Feed!
Getting back to the meeting, I did show that slide, which had been "printed" to the software included with the Presenter-to-go device from AppleWorks. I showed how you can draw on slides by drawing on the Palm, then remove those marks. I later hooked up the laptop and showed how to create a slideshow from any app using the virtual printer-type driver Margi gives you. It's quite a slick little package, all told.
The Mirror app was still crashing, however, even with this smaller monitor. (Previous tests had been with a 19 inch CRT.) This program is supposed to allow you to turn on the display and show any Palm app through the Presenter-To-Go. As a teaching or presenting tool, this is what I had really bought the Presenter-To-Go package for. If I want to run a slideshow, I'm gonna pull out Keynote. I asked Alan (sitting across the table) if he was up to giving the Mirror app a try, and, surprisingly, he accepted. ("This program crashes my Palm every time I run it with the PtG device in it. How about trying it in yours?" That's right up there with "I think this milk is sour. Smell it and tell me what you think.")
I beamed the Mirror app over to his T|T. he pulled out his SD card (very reluctantly), plugged in the Presenter-To-Go, launched Mirror, and - BAM! - there was his screen, larger than llife! He then showed off various little items - graphics in Plucker, the launcher he's using, the datebook, and a cribbage game or two. Cribbage started a rabbit trail that may still be going on - I was the only person there, I think, who did not know how to play. Everyone else not only plays, but had their own favorite cribbage game, and they started beaming them back and forth, and discussing the AI in this one versus this other one. Really high geek factor for a while.
We did come back to earth for a few mintues to talk about moving the group from place to place within the Triangle. Several places were tossed out, and we finally decided on the Bear Rock at University Mall in Chapel Hill for the October meeting. More info will be sent out or posted later, and we may have another couple of places chosen before the next meeting, so we can send out the schedule for several meetings ahead. Hopefully we can dodge the next Teacher Feed!
September 17, 2004
'Atta Girl, Margi!
I have a new Margi Presenter Pro that works pretty nicely with the presentation package. Having a few issues with the mirroring, but I still like it. (Of course, mirroring is the main thing I wanted it for.....)
We also have some swag from PalmSource, since we're officially recognized as a Palm User Group. We'll draw for several items over the next few months.
Also, two review opportunities. First, I have some Palm anti-virus software by a rather well-known anti-virus company. It's the corporate pack, but would probably work for just a single installation as well. Unless we want to get a server set up and consider ourselves a corporation and all test it. Now THAT would be a review!!
Second review item is a PC TableTote. It's a portable desk that folds down to about two Powerbooks stacked together, but only weighs 3.5 pounds. (For comparison, most modern full-featured laptops are in the 7-10 range.) It's pretty interesting, and I'd like to get several opinions. After we've had a chance to use it, we can raffle it off or have a drawing for it.
And I'm still having problems with the network at Bear Rock. Not that we always need it, but I was there last weekend and couldn't get on, but the help desk was closed. Anyone know of a better free network somewhere in the general area? Anyone interested in becoming a mobile group and traveling to various hotspots from month to month? That would certainly make for some variety, as well as reward those Durham/Chapel Hillians who have been driving over lo, these four+ years. I'll post online so we can start the discussion there, then maybe have a poll after the meeting, if we still need one.
Meanwhile, stay dry, and stay within reach of something tall and solid.
Smythe
We also have some swag from PalmSource, since we're officially recognized as a Palm User Group. We'll draw for several items over the next few months.
Also, two review opportunities. First, I have some Palm anti-virus software by a rather well-known anti-virus company. It's the corporate pack, but would probably work for just a single installation as well. Unless we want to get a server set up and consider ourselves a corporation and all test it. Now THAT would be a review!!
Second review item is a PC TableTote. It's a portable desk that folds down to about two Powerbooks stacked together, but only weighs 3.5 pounds. (For comparison, most modern full-featured laptops are in the 7-10 range.) It's pretty interesting, and I'd like to get several opinions. After we've had a chance to use it, we can raffle it off or have a drawing for it.
And I'm still having problems with the network at Bear Rock. Not that we always need it, but I was there last weekend and couldn't get on, but the help desk was closed. Anyone know of a better free network somewhere in the general area? Anyone interested in becoming a mobile group and traveling to various hotspots from month to month? That would certainly make for some variety, as well as reward those Durham/Chapel Hillians who have been driving over lo, these four+ years. I'll post online so we can start the discussion there, then maybe have a poll after the meeting, if we still need one.
Meanwhile, stay dry, and stay within reach of something tall and solid.
Smythe
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