GEEK HEAVEN: Fun and frolicking at PalmSource 99
Fredlet’s back from PalmSource and boy did she see some cool stuff. If you want to see the latest in neat add-ons for your device as well as the new clones, you’re going to want to read this article. It’s the next best thing to being there.
This year’s PalmSource was a definite change from the Developer Conference last year. There were considerably more people this year than last. As you might imagine, Handspring was the buzz of the conference this year. Their debut caught the imaginations of everyone. For those of you living under rocks, Handspring Springboards are the modules that plug into the back of the Visor unit (the clone of the Palm IIIe device). These Springboard devices give the Visor pager and modem capabilities, the ability to play MP3 files, and more. Lots of companies are coming out with different products that use the Springboard. There are very few limits to what you can do with this add-on slot, although Pop Tarts don’t really fit into the Springboard slot.
I got to the conference the first day with the intention of getting registered, tracking down my buddies, and schmoozing a bit with the geeks. I ran into Michael Shawver from Revolve Design (of UniMount fame) and said a quick hello as he was dashing off to a breakout session. Then I trundled upstairs and saw David Pogue interviewing people with a camera guy and sound dude huddled around him. I stood back and watched the antics until he was done and caught his eye to say hi. We chatted for a few minutes then he said “Hey Fredlet, do an interview for me!”
Fredlet TV
On camera? Sure. I can be goofy on camera as well as the next guy. So after the prerequisite goofiness of “What’s my motivation? Where’s my mark? Where’s the make up guy with my touch up?” and pretending to be a diva (pretending?), we finally got down to the business of the interview. I explained who I was and why I was qualified to talk about the backpacks we received with our conference materials. He asked me questions like what I thought of the backpack giveaways we got at the conference (very nice, nothing that is specifically for a Palm device, but that’s ok, it has other redeeming qualities) and why I went to the conference (geeks and gadgets, of course). Essentially I was my usually silly self. Hopefully, the video editors will be kind to my little segment.
Many of the exhibits were geared toward enterprise solutions, such as Oracle with their databases and wireless solutions for communicating between Palm units and cell phones and beepers and alien spacecraft and…well, you get the idea.
Bluetooth, a small form factor, low-cost, short range, wireless standard finally made it out of the secret underground laboratory. It was announced that Bluetooth technology would be incorporated into such items as Visor Springboard modules and JP Systems’ wireless paging products.
I’m told the technology is named for the Viking king who unified a bunch of the unruly hordes in Denmark in the 900’s. It’s hoped that this technology will unify the unruly hordes of communication standards that we currently have on the planet now. Oh, how I adore code names.
Cool conference stuff
This year’s conference materials came in a swank little backpack complete with a built-in laptop sleeve, loads of pockets, and the PalmSource 99 logo stitched on the front. Also inside, along with the requisite T-shirts, conference schedule, and ton of advertising flyers, was a CD from TRG with a flash memory card in it, which said, “Come on by our booth to see if you won a TRG Pro!” Well, I never win stuff, but I figured I had a fifty percent chance if I actually tried, and a zero percent chance if I didn’t. The spirit of the game won me over and I went over to their booth to try my luck at the new TRG Pro. The TRGPro is like the Palm IIIx only in another dinner jacket with a CompactFlash Expansion Slot.
So I dutifully trundled over to the booth and said “Well? Have I won? Am I a winner?” To his credit, the guy laughed and then a look of surprise came over his face and he said, “You did win!” I won a TRGPro unit! I never win things! I was pretty surprised but I was pleased nonetheless. Apparently I was the first person to win, so the guys there were pretty happy to have me walking around telling people I won. We took some pictures of me with my new device. Check out Figure A to see me with my TRGPro. [Of course, now we can expect Fredlet to review the TRGPro. Can’t we? Sure, I knew you would. The voice of the editor speaks. - DG]
FIGURE A
Fredlet and one of the TRG folks with her swank new TRGPro.
Then I set about grilling the folks at TRG about the new toys they have arriving for their new device. There are many. The yummiest by far is the folding keyboard, shown in Figure B.
FIGURE B
A closer look at TRG’s folding keyboard.
Another lovely toy I ran across while roaming wild and free through the showroom floor was the MyCorder Data Acquisition System from Datastick Systems. As you can see in Figure C, the Datastick is used for importing analog data into your Palm device (just wait until they have color…oooohhh.).
FIGURE C
Here’s someone using the MyCorder Data Acquisition System.
Landware was at PalmSource. They were promoting their marvelous little keyboards for all flavors of Palm computers, with the Handspring model set to show up around December.
Saturn (yes, the car company) was promoting their electric car, which you can see in Figure D, smack dab in the middle of the show. They had a UniMount inside with a charger unit and Palm device ready for use. The best quote of the conference was about the car, “Wow, that’s the most expensive Palm recharger I’ve ever seen.” I snickered and walked on.
FIGURE D
Saturn’s expensive Palm device recharger.
Noticeably absent were many case manufacturers or startlingly new and wonderful cases. But I suppose, as a self-proclaimed bag lady, I’ll never really think there are enough cases around.
WeSync in groups
One of the only appointments I let myself make this year knocked my socks off with their software, even still in beta. WeSync is a solution many people have been waiting for. This interesting product allows multiple people to share calendars and datebooks, thus rendering my solution to multiple users sharing a datebook and address book happily obsolete (read about my solution anyway). Whether you are sharing with one person or 200 people in a workgroup, you now have the option of seeing their calendar as well as your own calendar. Their concept of a community is based on calendars that have common blocks of time for a group of people. You can have as many community calendars on your Palm device as you want.
For instance, I would probably have my personal social calendar (nothing on it, probably), Joe Bob Brigg’s movie schedule for the coming months, and my work meeting schedule. Of course, I’d have to get my mom organized so that I can keep track of her comings and goings. You can even download calendars from the NFL community, listing all of the games scheduled. I am hoping that the TV networks or TV Guide get into this and put their lineups on the WeSync site for download.
Basically, what was once a painful 87.3 steps to get a ratty old solution now can be done by performing a HotSync or, if you have a wireless option with your Palm device, over the ether. I think WeSync is really on top of things - I have to say, it gets 4 and 3/4 pumas on Fredlet’s Puma Meter. Probably 5 once I get my calendar set up and see the details of creation and use of their services. I’m excited about this, and believe me, I have lots of ideas for this software. Beware boys, I’m on a roll!
I’d rate this year’s conference at 4.27 flying squirrels on the Fredlet Flying Squirrel Meter. I’ll give a higher rating when they come out with a Mac Desktop that isn’t a serious hazard to your sanity. The license plate in Figure E summed up the overall feeling of the conference for me.
FIGURE E
The developers have definitely been working late.
The developers have definitely been working late!