OSD.

Ok, so what's good of having a very good media player without content? and legal content for that matter.

Here come our rights to record non-digital content (at least for now) a DVR and the OSD

So what's the OSD, it is a device that allows you record directly into a SD or Compact Flash card or a USB drive in two different formats MP4 or ASF, this is create because both formats are supported by the PalmOS players, finally I can see TV anywhere I am, not only TV Shows, but documentaries, movies, etc. And thanks to the DVR I don't miss any show. I chose the OSD because I believe it is the most dynamic device, now it is not for the non-geek, although out of the box works for the most part but you will need some technical skills to get the most of it.

The OSD is not the only game in town, Neuros makes a couple more recorders, here is a list:

Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2

Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2

Now if you don't want a Neuros or are not convinced, here are a couple more options:

SanDisk SDMV1-R V-Mate

Audiovox PVR1000 Portable Personal Video Recorder with LCD

Video on the palm.

One of the best uses for my palm is the ability to watch video, there are many occasions that I had to wait for my car to be fixed or in a doctor's office, but thanks to my palm I actually had a good time. In coming posts I will review each of the software that I use, but in the meantime, let me give the list:

1.OSD
2.Coreplayer
3.Kinoma player

I'll talk about the strength of each software and why I use 2.

Until next week!

Podcasting in your palm

Finally after some time I got to do a new entry in my blog, I am starting a new one too, this one about my points of view as an immigrant living in the USA and about some other things, althoug more than a blog will be a podcast, which is why I wanted to give you my impressions about podcast and how I have it implemented in my Palm.

First What is a podcast? in my layman terms is the ability to get audio content (almost in any topic) and in an easy way transfer to a mp3 player. Now, let me tell you it is really easy to start listenning to a podcast if you have the correct setup and software, here is the software I use.

1. iPodder
2. PocketTunes
3. Windows Media

Just download ipodder and install it. Check the directory or podcastAlley to check for podcast that might interested you, I recomend The Daily Source Code , ITConversations and OnTheMedia, of course there is a ton of them, just look for the one you like.

After you select your feeds, just click on get new podcast and you are ready .. almost.

Second part is to transfer your files to your PalmOS handheld, there is tons of way to do this, but I will describe two, I use the second.

1. Get a card ready, plug your card and copy your mp3 from your computer to your card.
2. Open PocketTunes in your PalmOS handheld, conect it to your PC, in your PC open Windows Media and go to Syncronize, check your playlist and once you selected the one you want sync, just click in the Sync button.

Now I know using Windows Media looks more complicate but it is really not, plus it is a lot easier to keep track of what you have transfer to your PalmOS handheld.

Ok, I hope you get interested in podcasting,really it is totally worth it.

Pocket Tunes
I know it's being a while since I wrote something, but let me tell you, it's been a busy summer, mainly since one of my projects went live and we bought a new house, it's been a lot of work, in consequence my blogs are kind of alone, but hopefully I can start to do something about it. First I am starting a series of posts reviewing every piece of software in my palm, I will start with one of my favorite software title: Pocket Tunes.

Now, once you move to a PalmOS 5 handheld you move to a new dimension, not only it is a better operating system but it takes you to think in new ways to use your handheld, one of these uses is for multimedia, yes for the first time, any PalmOS 5 has enough power to play music and videos, yes you heard it, you can be productive AND have fun with your palm. One of the first products that I discover was PocketTunes an mp3 player for the PalmOS, now, PocketTunes is not the only mp3 player, there is AeroPlayer and RealOne player too, but PocketTunes is the only one that allows you to listen to Ogg Vorbis files AND Windows Media files (not encrypted). This expands your universe incredible since Windows media files are smaller, meaning that now you can put more files in your 256 mb SD card.

Now I am not a big music fan, I'd like listenning to tunes in my palm but I am not great at describing features like the equalizer and whatnot, I basically use the following features of PocketTunes:

1. MP3 and WindowsMedia playing.
2. Crossfading which I think means that there is no silent moment between songs.
3. Internet streaming, you read correctly, PocketTunes allows you to listen to streams using WinAmp technology, which is awesome, right now I am in starbucks listenning to virgin radio using my T608 and my T3, isn't that incredible?

Now, don't think pocket tunes is restricted to these features, it has tons of features, you can check at: http://www.pocket-tunes.com I highly recomend this software.

Gabriel

Backup strategy
A recent post in palmAddicts.com inspire me to write my backup strategy which I'm sure some will find a little extreme but it works for me:

1. I Hotsync at least 2 times a day.

2. I use Backbuddy for Windows from BlueNomad, awesome backup software! it really makes a complete backup.

3. I use Backupbuddy not only to make a backup of the main RAM but also I make a backup of my SD card.

4. I use cardbackup in my T3 and I schedule a daily backup to my sd card at midnight, plus I keep each day backup individually so if I need to recover a file from 2 days ago I can do it.

I hope that this can help you to always recover from disaster.

Gabriel Castellanos.

IM clients review: Verichat
Yesterday I saw re-publish in PA (without my intervention) my first IM review, I saw that as a sign that I should finish what I started, here is part 3:

Verichat

Finally we get to the current king in IM clients for PalmOS: Verichat. PDAApps maker of Verichat uses a propietary protocol and its own servers as gateways to other IM services, while very reliable (I never had a problem connecting to the service) it opens several uncomfortable options: the company can start charging a subscription fee plus the cost of the software, if the company goes under then the software will stop working. Now this is just speculation, I mention this because it a possibility.

Now, let's check what it supports:

- MSN, Yahoo, AOL IM and ICQ.
- Full support for emoticons (not animated though)
- Background support, it keeps connected while your are working in other apps.
- Keeps online presence even "offline", by sending your messages to your cellphone.
- Support for multiple conversations.
- Really, really pretty.

Now the problems:
- Verichat allows your handheld to turn off not like chatapus that just turn off the screen, probably because it keep you "online" forwarding all your messages to your cell phone.
- It does not notify you if you receive and email in your hotmail or yahoo account.

In my next post I will give my personal selection and why.

Gabriel Castellanos

How I use my palm at work
I use it in so many ways:

- Taking notes: each meeting I go I use my wireless keyboard to take notes in slap, after the meeting I use slap to tranfer my notes to Task, Calendar or Memo+. Plus at the end of the meeting I take a picture of the whiteboard so I don't forget to write anything.

- Archive notes: All my notes and project contacts go into and special database in Handbase.

- Managing project: I apply the GTD methodology using Shadow to keep track of all tasks and status, Task where the tasks I am working are and DoctToGo where I keep reference material and an Excel spreadsheet where I keep a status report.

- Email: I sync my "action" email with VersaMail so any free time I can read and reply my emails.

- Check email and calendar on the go: My office depends heavely in exchange and outlook and it is important for me to be able to check my email and calendar, thanks to my T3 and my T608 I can access the wireless web client and check my information.

Gabriel Castellanos

Intant Messaging: Webmessenger
Webmessenger offer similar features to Chatapus, but in this case it uses a propietary protocol and the company owns the servers that work as a gateway to the other messaging protocols (MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Jabber, ICQ). Here is the list of features:

- Access to all main IM protocols, with send and receive functionality.
- Allows you to add contacts
- Features a "suspend" function that allows the users to be in an "away" status when quiting the application and when loggin again it display all pending messages.
- Seems more reliable than Chatapus, only one time I was unable to login.

What it does not offers:

- No emoticons.
- It does not imports your buddy list, it adds buddies as they send you messages. If you want your buddy list you need the desktop component.
- It does not show if a contact is online or not. Now the developer claims that it works, I was unable to verify it.
- Really expensive (29.95)
- Not pretty.

Next review: Verichat

Gabriel Castellanos

Instant Messaging: Chatopus

After several months of trying internet programs I am pretty happy with my selections for Web Browser, email client and weblog client, now my only selection left is an IM client, I use MSN, Yahoo and AIM so I need a client that supports all three, based on this there are only three posibilities:

Verichat
Chatopus
Webmessenger

I will be reviewing each of them, this is the first of three reviews.

Chatopus

Chatopus is actually a Jabber IM client, Jabber is an open source protocol so everybody can connect to a jabber server and use and install jabber software, this open a ton of posibilities but also it has some drawbacks, mainly that there are not many reliable jabber servers out there, and without a server you cannot connect. One advantage is that the jabber protocol supports gateways to others IM networks, in this case, MSN, Yahoo and AIM.

Configuration is a little cumbersome, mainly since you can not create a Jabber account from the client nor configure the gateways. this means that you need to select a client and then make all the configuration in your PC. Check Jabber for more information.

Now the Chatopus interface is quite simple, basically allows you:

- Send/Receive IM messages.
- Check the status of your friends
- Add/Remove buddies
- It supports the T3 screen.
- Multitasking, basically you can leave the program to use another application but you will still receive your messages, this is very handy when you are working in several applications. You get message notifications in the form of silent alarms, in the case of the T3 the LED light blinks and the alert icon in the toolbar blinks too, sound alerts are in developing.

Now, the bad, it is not a beutiful app, icons are kind of simple and it does not supports emoticons, it does not support screen names either, this basically means that in the case of msn messenger you will see an email address not your buddy's name, same with Yahoo messenger.

Now the biggest plus, price, it is 14.95 at Palmgear, by far the cheapest of all the IM applications I am reviewing.

Next review: Webmessenger.

Gabriel

SLAP

I spent about half my days in meetings, which makes really important to be able to take good notes and then transfer them to the correct application (memo, calendar, task, email, etc). Always a difficult task until I found slap, wonderful piece of software, basically takes a loosely format text and convert it into an item in the selected application, so I can write something like "Tomorrow 11am Appt in NYC with Joe" select the text and press the calendar button and this will create an entry in my calendar, this allows me to concentrate in taking notes without having to jump to different applications.

Travel

I am so happy for having my T3, one of the best uses of it is when I am traveling, I can download webpages with useful information using plucker, I summarize information and create a Word doc which I transfer to my palm, I use the Zagat guide to know where to eat, I use Metro to travel throuhg the city like a native and if I need extra information I get to the internet using my T608 and bluetooth. I can tell you, the best tourist guide ever is my T3

Email
Email has been become an indespensable communication tool for me, not only keep me in contact with my family and friends but also help me with my job. Which brings me to my T3, it allows me to collect not only my email from my POP accounts but thanks to VersaMail I can get my outlook email too!.

It is very convenient to be able to write an email with the meeting minute during the meeting itself! It is convenient too to sync my email and take it with me every where or by using my T608 I can sync it wirelessly!

Conclusion: a palmOSdevice is an excellent device for email.

Gabriel Castellanos.

Dictionaries

Something great about the PalmOS handhelds is that they are excellent reference tools, I live in the USA but english is not my first language, so when I am writing or I am in a conversation I need to translate words but this is really easy, since I have two english-spanish dictionaries and the PalmPak Dictionary Thesaurus card, these three utilities are really useful. Complementing the package I have 2 books about english grammar, which after reading them I can say that my writting skills have improve a lot or at least that's what I hope :)

Gabriel Castellanos

Digital Dashboard
One of the best features of my palm is the ability to keep all my information in one place, I manage differents projects so it is important to keep always with me all the important information that allows me to take decisions on the spot, for these I use the following software:

1. ShadowPlan: Essential to keep all projects and task information in one place
2. MyWeek: Allows me to keep track of meetings and deadlines
3. Built-in To-do: Always show me what to do next (link with Shadow).
4. Slap: Where I take my meetings notes.
5. Handbase: Where I save all my projects notes and contacts.
6. DocsToGo: I keep one spreadsheet that gives me a status summary.

As you can see I cannot live without my palm

Gabriel Castellanos.

Divorce
Such an ugly word I must say but since I got my first PalmOS handheld I hear it frequently from my wife, the main complaint is because every 5 seconds or so I pull out my T3 because I have something to input or check, now I do it even without thinking so one day my wife decided to count how many times within and hour I will use my palm, 10 times!!

So fellas are you having marital problems because of your palm?

Gabrie Castellanos

Compulsion.
I have a little compulsion, I love to try and use new programs for my T3, I just love it, but it is getting a little out of hand, I was checking all the programs that I have bought in the last year and I spent over 200usd just in software!!!, enough money to buy a TE to replace my wife's Clie (an older T model). On the bright side this makes me realize how useful is my T3 for me, even though sometimes I have duplicate programs (docs to go, quickoffice, mobileDB, HandBase and SmartListToGo for example), but I really use it for a lot of things, not only fun things but to keep my productivity and my quality of life up!. do you have a compulsion too?

Gabriel Castellanos

Browsers
I am amazed everyday that I use my T3, it is just amazing what it can do. Today my wife is using our desktop computer and I am running a maintenance program in my Laptop, which basically leave only with my T3, not a problem, I am writing this using mo:Blog in my T3, since I am doing some research I am using my T3 to browse different websites to gather information, I use two browsers, Blazer (I have this since my m505 days) and Webpro, usually when I need speed and I am just reading I use Blazer, if I need details and interact with the website I use Webpro. I so wish PalmOne upgraded the Blazer browser to use the T3 screen but I believe that they will move on and use Webpro only, probably we should do a petition to ask them to upgrade it? how many of you out there use Blazer? any other browser out there I should be looking at?.

Gabriel Castellanos

More on Bluetooth
I've been reading that the main use of bluetooth for many people is to access the internet, either using a mobile phone or by using an adapter attached to their computers. Even myself I use it that way but it is not the only use of bluetooth, I use it to for syncronizing, no cables!! I use it also for to send files back and forth with my PC, to keep it in sync with my mobile phone since I am a Windows user and I don't have iSync, so I send the information that I need from my T3 to my T608, I use it also to dial my T608 since I don't want all my numbers in it, just the one that I need the most, so sometimes the phone is in my T3 so I just dial it using bluetooth. I also use bluetooth to send some information from my outlook at work to my T3 since I don't want to carry around with all of my work information, I just select the appt I need to transfer to my T3, go to File and then select "Send to Bluetooth". It works for notes and calendar events, this is really handy for me.

There are many other uses for Bluetooth and hopefully more companies will bring to the american market more accesories that we can use. I know that several companies are working in digital cameras (imagine to take a pictures send it to your palm and then send it through email!), keyboards, etc. so be patiente and if you have a bluetooth enable PDA, use it to the maximum!

Gabriel Castellanos

Travel with my T3, Part III

The final accesory I am reviewing is the veo photo traveler digital camera, is an excellent complement to the T3 if you keep your expectations real, how much real you would ask, let's start by saying that in no way this accesory will replace your 5 megapixel digicam, but it is a good "always on" camera for those "I wish I had a camera" moments.

I use the veo photo traveler quite often mostly at work, how? I take pictures of the white board during my meetings, there is no easier way to take notes!, sometimes I have to take more than one mainly when the whiteboard is crowded with information and since the Veo is a very low resolution I'd loose details if I don't divide the whiteboard in sections.

Another use for the Veo Photo Traveler is to share experiences, my family lives in another country and this camera has brought us closer together, since I can share more of what I see around here. One good example is my recent travel to LA, where I was able to take pictures of the improvements in my sister's in law house so I could share them with my wife as well as pictures of my nephews, hardly a "magic" moment but something that I wanted to share :).

Conclusion, I believe that this camera is a good investment as long as your expectations are real. I enjoy this little accesory a lot, it's a shame that veo cancel its 1.3 megapixel camera, hopefully the reason behing is because they are working in a 2 megapixel camera ;)

Gabriel Castellanos

Traveling with my T3 part 2

The next accesory I want to review is the proporta 9v emergency charger.

As you can imagine when flying for more than 2 hours there is a huge posibility than my T3 runs out of juice, even faster if I try to browse the internet using bluetooth while you are waiting for your next flight, since I wanted to take advantage of my time I decided that I need it to take with me the proporta charger, which basically uses a 9v battery to charge your palm, the concept is simple and worked as advertise, you just need to be aware of the following:
- One battery will charge your palm between 30-40%. In my case (T3) it was 30%.
- It takes almost 2 hours to charge your PalmOS handheld.
- It does not show when the 9v battery is out of juice, the only way I figure was by taking the tempeture of the 9v battery, if it was hot, it still had juice.

Even with its shortcommings I believe is worth every cent if you fly frequently or you are going to be in a place withouth access to an electric plug.

Gabriel Castellanos