This page is a sort of "recommendations" page. Whenever I'm bored I try out new software, which won't be mentioned here, but this page will list the things I wouldn't do without. Maybe you'll find my suggestions useful.
Contents
In addition to the built-in applications, I really wouldn't do without the following:
- A Document Reader application
- Flashcard software
- A Database application
- Support for Strong Encryption
- Miscellaneous amusements
Document Reader
First and foremost you'll need some sort of document reader. My current recommendation is Peanut Reader. It reads documents in its own format, or in AportisDoc format, which is by far the most popular document format for the Palm OS. The reader is free, it allows you to create bookmarks and attach marginal notes, and it has a pretty nice interface.
There are two down sides to the reader, though. First, it won't let you organize your documents into categories. Instead the documents are all in one big list, which is a pain when you have lots of little documents. That's not the biggest deal, since the only readers I can find which do use categories are much inferior in other ways.
Second, there seems to be a bug: when reading AportisDoc documents, the reader creates two extra files (I think that one is an index and the other a bookmark file). When you delete a document, those files do not get deleted, and eventually they can take up a lot of memory. I get around the problem by deleting those excess files by hand: just look for files on your Palm Pilot with names like "...Ex.pdb" or "...Kz.pdb" where "..." is replaced with the original document's file name.
Stop the presses! The folks at Peanut Press just got back to me, and apparently I was using an outdated version of their reader. The new version solves both of those problems! So now I'd say that Peanut Reader is practically perfect in every way.
See also My Etext Page.
Flashcard Software
Another amazingly useful Pilot application is SuperMemo, which is basically a flashcard program. I'm using it to study for professional exams at work, and I plan to use it for Bible study--memorizing verses, memorizing the kings of Judah, that sort of thing.
Watch this space for flashcard sets as I release them. Sorry, there aren't any yet. Bible-related sets will be released free; I may offer Professional Certification sets for $10 unless there are copyright problems.
A Database Application
In reality just about every Palm application is really just a database. But there are tons of data applications a person might want, which don't rate a separate program--for example, the schedule of the J bus in Mishawaka. When you need something like that, you want a generic database application.
The two most popular Pilot DBs seem to be ThinkDB and HanDBase. I haven't tried ThinkDB yet, but I think HanDBase is just great. I've created two databases already:
- Daily Bible Reading
This Bible reading planner takes you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice every year, in less than 1/2 hour per day. Each day is divided into three portions; starting on January 1 with Genesis, the Psalms and Matthew. This database also lets you check off the day's readings as you do them, so you can see your progress through the year.
- My Library Books
This database records the books you borrow from the library, the due dates, which branch you got them from, and who you borrowed them for (your kids, say). When you return books you check them off. Now you'll always know what books you've still got out, what books are overdue, and (in the case of the kids) who to yell at about overdue books. As an added feature, you can take notes on your library books; now you'll remember the good ideas you read and where it was you read them!
- My Pilot Price Book
Readers of the Tightwad Gazette are familiar with price books: you devote one page to each product you regularly buy, and list the prices at the various stores in town. Then on shopping day, you know exactly what to buy in each store in order to get the best bargains. This database works in exactly the same way, but it lets you easily add and delete entries, sort by price, filter by store, sort by category (Dairy, Meat, etc.)...Such penny-pinching power, it makes me dizzy...
- Perry Mason Bibliography
Erle Stanley Gardner wrote the famous Perry Mason novels between 1933 and his death in 1970. They're somewhat formulaic, and good for mindless entertainment--the problem is, I can't remember which ones I've already read! I hate getting partway in and realizing I've read this one before. This database lists all of the Perry Mason novels, their number in the series, and the year of publication. There's also a checkbox so you can mark the ones you've already read so you can work methodically through all 86 of them.
If you're curious, you can see which one's I've read so far here.
Strong Encryption
This is absolutely vital! Please don't neglect it! Most people don't realize that "password protected" files don't mean a thing; the software honors the protection by refusing to open the file if you don't know the password, but lots of other programs will open it just fine! Especially thanks to Linux, anyone in the whole world can read your Palm Pilot files, even if they're marked "private".
There is only one solution. Strong encryption must be used to make the file completely unintelligible. Then a "password" is used as the code key to decrypt the file. Without the password, the file is unreadable no matter what software is used.
Working encryption into other apps is usually tricky, and most use the somewhat ingenious solution of using the clipboard--i.e, Cut, Encrypt, Paste. But it's easy to make a mistake with those, and lose your data. The handiest encryption app I've seen for the Palm Pilot is Read This!. It works with an OS hack to make a "hot corner": you drag the padlock from the upper right corner down to your text and Voila! it's encrypted.
I use "Read This!" to store my passwords for things like bank accounts, online trading, retirement accounts, etc. The data itself is in a normal HanDBase database. When I need a password I just drag the padlock and decrypt it. I think that's much handier than the special-purpose password databases out there, because you can also use "Read This!" to encrypt Memos, expense information, ToDo items--absolutely anything that you're allowed to edit.
Do be aware of one thing, though. Many encryption products are weak, and using weak encryption is pointless (especially since strong encryption is readily available). Don't use the XOR encryption that comes with "Read This!"; download the IDEA module and install that. IDEA is the best encryption available at the moment; if triple DES were available I would insist on using that.
(Requires HackMaster to run)
Miscellaneous Amusements
A small handful of other utilities, games, etc., make the pilot a little more homey. They are:
- The Joshua P Hack
For fans of Joshua P Budney, there's a pair of startup and shutdown screens with his famous face. You do have to hold it at arms length to see it right, though; the Pilot has pretty low resolution, and the two-color dithering didn't help any. Still, he's cuter than the Palm logo! (Requires HackMaster. Created with SleepPic)
- LeftHack
Scrolling through text is a royal pain if you're a lefty! This hack moves scroll bars to the left side of the screen. If you're a lefty, you might be surprised how much you took the inconvenience for granted!
- SwitchHack
SwitchHack is a must for palm users. The most important feature of a "multitasking" system is the ability to switch easily from one task to another. The Palm is really lacking in this respect, but SwitchHack more than makes up for it. With a simple stroke you can jump between the current app and the previous one. With another, you can pop up a list of the last ten apps you've used.
You have to use it to appreciate how incredibly handy it is. To give just one example: you can switch instantly between your mail program and your address book, to cut and paste email addresses (a feature the built-in apps lack, by the way).
- EcoHack
EcoHack slows down the clock inside the Palm to save batteries. When the Palm is in use, it uses about 40% less power but runs about 40% slower--a complete wash. But when the processor is idle, which is most of the time, the power savings is passed on to you. I use rechargeables, so the power savings doesn't translate into cost savings, but I hate constantly changing batteries. (Note: EcoHack doesn't work yet for PalmOS versions higher than 3.1. I'm waiting for the next version.)
