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PalmOS 3.3 Released
MatriXOracle writes "PalmOS 3.3 is now available for download for users of the Palm V, Palm III/IIIx, IBM WorkPad c3/30X/20X, and older Palms with the 2MB upgrade card. Palm IIIe users can't upgrade, due to the lack of a flashable ROM on those systems, and Palm VII users will have to wait for an upgrade compatible with those devices to become available. New features include a doubling of the maximum HotSync speed, HoySync-over-IR, Euro support, and network logon enhancements. "
There is a discussion of how to do this under Linux over at Palmstation .
You are right... pilot-xfer is a great tool (although the version I have cored when trying to sync a full 8 MB TRG upgraded IIIx).
Bill Kilgallon
Mathematically impossible requirements are technically not against policy.
That sounds like the message I've seen when the physical connection is bad and a data transfer fails unexpectedly.
I'm not surprised it died if it lost its connection while updating the flash. This is always dangerous, especially if done remotely (e.g. over the cradle link). I assume they had to do it this way - if they could have transferred the whole firmware image to local memory and flashed from there it would have been much safer... Maybe the image is too large.
/* The beatings will continue until morale improves. */
Will this update also be available on the Visor's? I have been putting off buying one untill the add-on packs come out, but it look like there are a LOT of nice features in 3.3..
-- I'm the root of all that's evil, but you can call me cookie..
--
Actually, I think you can go back...
As of yesterday afternoon late, they did have instructions on re-flashing and going back to the previous OS. I didn't use them, as I was happy with the upgrade, but I do remember they were there.
As I recall, they were smart enough to build the flash loader into real rom (not the flash rom), so you cannot render your beloved palm unbootable (unlike many pre pentium II motherboards).
Bill Kilgallon
Mathematically impossible requirements are technically not against policy.
Not only that, but they're also making an Ethernet Cradle, so that you can sync and connect directly over a network. Cool.
Now, if they'd only release a Hotsync manager that would run as an NT service, life would be grand. They are releasing the Palm Sync Server, but that costs US$20K(!). Yowch.
by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
Yes.
According to what I've seen from 3Com, you'll be able to use the new HotSync Manager with both Palms. However, once you've upgraded your III, only it will be able to take advantage of the higher transfer rates. Your IIIe is not flash-upgradeable, but it will still connect and synchronize its databases.
For more information, click here.
I think those are pretty much the same devices - the WorkPad is just a relabeled Pilot, and the Phone is pretty much just a borg-like combination of the pilot and a phone... I think the Visor is the only device that is significantly different, hardware-wise.
Or I could be wrong. :)
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I threw this on my Palm V yesterday, and it is definiely worth the download if you do any Synching of your data. I was able to half my synch time with this new version of the OS. Can't wait to try out synching over IR to my laptop sometime.....
Take the time to read the instructions though folks, it takes about 6 minutes to install 3.3 and your screen freaks out during this time....
DrLunch.com The site that tells you what's for lunch!
New features include a doubling of the maximum HotSync speed...
:)
Now I can install Solitare faster then ever before!
But seriously...I love my Palm, I use it much more often then I ever used my Franklin Planner. And I can play games with it! Wait...that sounded vaguely dirty...
:)
I wear pants.
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"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
But that probably isn't the question you're asking. What you have to keep in mind is that the Palm was really designed as a desktop adjunct, _not_ as a self-sustaining portable computer. The reason is that most people who use Palms have desktop PCs, and don't need a self-sustaining palmtop.
This is distinct from the story of the Newton, which was designed to be a self-contained, self-sustaining "palmtop" computer. This meant that the Newton developers had to worry about natively supporting different printer drivers, network protocols, etc. from day one, which dramatically increased the complexity of the system. With Palm, you originally had nothing but a serial interface (although they've since added TCP/IP over serial), and you didn't have to worry about printing or other data transfer because that all takes place on the PC. This makes for a very simple OS and UI.
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
It looks like they have finally added the option to set up a TCP/IP connection using the standard cradle. Previously PalmOS would have only let you use a modem to connect to network; now IR and direct serial are possible..We're getting there, just wait until there is a nice Bluetooth add-on for Palm, or better, the Visor.
I bet a lot of Slashdot users(who were too lazy to set up a PPP server on their home Linux boxes just to connect their Palms to the Internet) will be installing this upgrade and fulfilling their filthiest, hidden fantasies of using PalmVNC to use their Linux boxes or surfing the Web on the Palm from an ADSL connection..I, for one, will be trying them...
Zigbee Central: A Zigbee weblog
Er, PalmOS has supported TCP/IP networking since version 2, on the PalmPilot Pro model. I have run PPP on a PalmPro connected to my Linux box. It was kinda neat, but the screen size makes it not very good for most network applications I can think of.
Why would you call Palm to cancel a visor? They're not the same company, unless they're in bed much closer than I thought. Do you mean you cancelled your visor in order to get a PalmV? Or cancelled a PalmV in order to get a visor?
www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
I downloaded it and ran the installer. My screen started to look odd, but the program said that this was normal. Fine.
I move on to the next step, and it tells me that it's "lost contact" with my Palm, and I should hit "retry." I do so about 9 times, finally choosing to reset the installation. Wrong answer, I guess. My Palm's OS is completely screwed. It's (my Palm, not the OS) sitting here in the cradle, with that weird screen, not responding to ANYTHING. That's right, no soft resets, hard resets, backlights, NOTHING. Thank god I just did a full backup or else I would have been pretty upset. I got the good people at Palm's customer support to send me one Next Day, and waive the replacement fee (thanks Robert!).Let this serve as a warning. Do a FULL backup before this installation.
Mark Prindle, the most underappreciated genius on the web.
I asked Palm support about upgrading to OS 3.3 using Linux, seeing the upgrade on their site seems to be Win or Mac-specific. Here is their entire reply:
Dear 3Com Customer,
Thank you for contacting Palm Computing(R) Online Support.
I understand you are having a problem with upgrading your Palm's OS.
I see that you are running Linux. I myself know that Linux is better then
windows, most likely the reason you use the operating system. There are some
set backs. The upgrade for the OS will not work because it's not readable by
your OS. Sorry for the inconvenience. Is there a way to upgrade the OS
without Windows or Mac? To my knowledge, No.
Have we resolved your issue to your satisfaction today? If the response we
have provided you does not meet with your satisfaction, please reply to this
message with an explanation as to why.
Please post all replies under this message.
Thank You,
Leo K.
~879
Palm Computing(R) Online Support
#:RES;1
That would seem to be a difficult battle.
I just called the Product Information and Sales line. After I explained my question and the fact that Linux is an operating system, and waited while someone went to ask to the supervisor, I was informed that Linux is not a supported platform and 3com currently has no intentions of supporting Linux.
Once I managed to get the supervisor on the phone, she was able to tell me that the PalmOS 3.3 version is not yet available, and she had looked at the web site earlier today. Pointing out that I had already downloaded the MS-Windows and Macintosh versions 20 minutes ago was insufficent to persuade her. She explained that those are upgrades to the desktops, not the PalmOS, and the 3.3 upgrade to the PalmOS would be available soon, "once they finish making it".
Go figure.
No, it can't. HandSpring did not put the OS on a flashable area of the device. Thus, there are no full upgrades to the OS. The only possiblity of OS enhancements would be like what Palm did for PalmOS 3.1.1. It was an update, not an upgrade. It exists on the device like an application and yes, it could be deleted just like an application.
As soon as you're born you start dying
I don't have windows, and have been extremely happy with both gpilotd and pilot-xfer, FWIW.
-- Erich
Slashdot reader since 1997
It basically gives a rundown of the new features, nothing special.
Mark Prindle, the most underappreciated genius on the web.
The page that a poster suggested said that it can't work with 3COM rom files because the 3COM rom files are missing the first 32K.
-- Erich
Slashdot reader since 1997
I've upgraded my Palm V and now it doesn't know how to turn itself off (by physical button or the power off icon in LauncherIII) while the Hackmaster PalmVFix is active.
If you see this problem turn off this hack and you should be back to normal. (Maybe HackMaster needs to be updated?)
/* The beatings will continue until morale improves. */
The pager card uses a non-compatible flash type.
(I owned one and returned it within 1 week of finding that out.) TRG was no help, didn't plan on supporting it, and Motorola & Pagemart pretty much agreed that they couldn't be bothered to support flash at all. They did say they'd release a flash upgrade IF a flash upgrade ever came out, but don't hold yer breath. Pager info is in the flashrom, and if you can change that, you can eavesdrop on other pager.... so they have no incentive to make it easy to do so.
Help achieve Liberty in your lifetime - join the Free State Project - http://www.freestateproject.org
I'm watching my palm screen and I can see a while bunch of people in suits and this lady in a red dress. Deja vu.
Whoa.
-Chris
Regardless, double check. Once you've upgraded the OS, there's no turning back.
As soon as you're born you start dying