LifeDriver

Security Panel Update 1.0

2005-12-09T07:51:00.000-06:00

Palm has released a new Security Panel Update for the LifeDrive as well as some other models. Check it out:

Palm - Support - Security Panel Update 1.0

Java on the LifeDrive

2005-12-08T09:03:00.000-06:00

Looking around it looks like Palm now supports IBM's Java
WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment on the LifeDrive, and they aren't trying to charge people for it any more.

Instructions are here. As always, be careful and downloader beware.

Thoughts on the ROM upgrade

2005-12-03T08:23:00.000-06:00

Well, I did the ROM upgrade and I didn't have any problems with the install.
I had to rebind my BlueTooth devices and connections but that was expected.
I do wish that Palm had included more detailed descriptions of what was new.

For example, Blazer has been upgraded to version 4.3 which is the version I believe that comes with the T|X. It is much faster, like night and day. There is now a little lightning bolt icon which allows you to turn the pictures off so that the pages load even faster. It's in the spot where the optimize/wide page mode icon was - you can still switch between thos by either using the menu or using Grafitti 2 shorcuts.

WiFi response and reception is also much improved. I can go much farther away from my access point with it now.

No crashes since the upgrade either. I'm very happy with my device now, it is reaching its full potential.

LifeDrive Update 2.0 Released

2005-12-02T07:33:00.000-06:00

I haven't had the chance to apply this yet, but the long-awaited LifeDrive Update 2.0 has been released!

*Note - from what I've read on the forums it may help to remove any SD card before you do the update process. Also you will probably want to have at least 31 Mb free on the internal device.

LifeDrive Update 2.0

What's it do? According to Palm:

What is the LifeDrive Update 2.0?

Here at Palm we want to make sure you get the best experience possible with your LifeDrive mobile manager. To help make that happen we have released a new update to the LifeDrive mobile manager.

This software update (version 2.0) provides a variety of enhancements for:

* Wi-Fi coverage in low signal areas
* Roaming performance
* File system stability
* Sound quality when listening to MP3 files
* More flexible multimedia functionality, including file transmission over wireless connections, file saving, and faster recording and playback
* Browser performance, including more efficient, faster page rendering
* The VersaMail® application to version 3.1C for large document attachments
* The Docs To Go application version 7.006
* New hard reset option to erase Program Memory but not Internal Drive contents more info

I haven't had the chance to apply this yet, but I will be doing it this afternoon and I will report back with my findings. Good luck!

Saving Battery Power

2005-10-17T12:44:00.000-05:00

I'm sure everyone is interested in how they can squeeze more battery time into the LifeDrive. Here's a couple of things I do:

-Turn the screen brightness down - I've done this for a while now and I am so used to it, I don't miss the extra brightness at all. You do this by:
1. Click on the time box in the bottom row.
2. Drag the bar on the line near the bottom with the sun by it all the way to the left (note that on this screen you get a big digital clock, a bigger battery meter and a memory meter).
That's it!

*Note: The following tip may be causing problems with WiFi*

-Underclock your LifeDrive to 312 Mhz - What? Why do that? You want me to hobble my machine? No. Think about this: Palm's latest unit, the TX, runs at 312 Mhz. I too was skeptical but I haven't found any ill effects, the LD seems to do everything just as well, but I get longer battery life. To do this, install LifeDrive Speed Controller. Look in your Prefs application and you should see LifeDrive CPU. Have fun! Use at your own risk (I use it and all is well, but that doesn't mean it won't blow up your machine).

Google Blog Search is here!

2005-09-14T04:11:00.000-05:00

Google Blog Search is out now, and it looks great on the LifeDrive.

I'm still really digging the LifeDrive. As long as you try to stick to Palm OS 5 applications you should have a fairly stable machine.

I've been listening to podcasts in the car using a Belkin TuneCast II Mobile FM Transmitter. What this does is allow you to set it to a FM radio frequency, plug in your audio source (in my case the LD) and broadcast the audio on FM to your stereo. Going on a long trip? Program your LD PocketTunes playlist in advance and be in control of your audio experience. These can be had for around $35. I'd plug it in your car's electrical outlet because the batteries can't provide a decent signal for long.

The Beauty of Bloglines

2005-08-24T21:59:00.000-05:00

I started looking around for a way to read all the blogs I frequented in a web-based format. I also wanted one that looked good and would stay up-to-date when I looked at it on my LifeDrive, and I found it.

On your desktop, check out Bloglines
On your LifeDrive, check out Bloglines Mobile

This is a great web-based service that doesn't require you to download anything to work. It is very responsive and the mobile version looks great in Blazer. There are so many options for organizing and setting up how you want your stuff to look.

I had also looked at a few Windows-based aggregators but Bloglines is the only one I have found that would accept every type of feed I threw at it. I give it two thumbs up.

Make streaming audio a mp3 or ogg suitable for pod-listening with Audacity

2005-08-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

I use a free piece of software that will do this and runs on Windows and Linux (It runs on Mac but for the time being won't make record streaming audio):

Audacity

Ogg should work right away, but to make mp3s you will need to grab the LAME decoder. Instructions for this are found here:

Installing LAME in Audacity

Once you have everything, look here to see how to do it:

Recording Streaming Audio with Audacity

For Mac stream recording they recommend Audio Hijack or Wiretap Pro.

Fun with Bluetooth

2005-08-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

Today I used Bluetooth and my Motorola V551 to:

-Send an SMS message
-Dial a phone number using the Dialer application
-Surf the web via my phones GPRS connection (through Cingular)

Overall, I was very impressed. It is a good feeling knowing I can use the web anywhere there is WiFi or GPRS, and I'm not stuck using the phone's itty bitty browser.

How to fix Problems with Documents To Go

2005-08-02T08:08:00.000-05:00

After I got my LifeDrive, I was prompted to update my version of Datavis Documents To Go. Not long afterwards, I started having a problem of having the LifeDrive do a soft reset after each sync. When the LD would come back up, it would give an error message related to Word To Go. I checked out DataVis tech support and found this:

http://support.dataviz.com/support.srch?DocID=13122

You may have to enter your Registration number to access it. It totally fixed my problem.

After a week - who needs a laptop?

2005-08-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

Well, after a week with it, I'm really happy with the LifeDrive. I used to want a laptop but not any more, I can do what I want with this machine and I can fit it in my pocket.

Here are the non-standard apps I am using:

NetChaser
FileZ
TCPMP
TuSSH
PalmVNC

I am conciously avoiding apps for PalmOS older than 5.0 because I think that may be the source of a lot of people's problems who are complaining on the forums.

How I get my Podcasts

2005-07-25T09:11:00.000-05:00

The method that I use to get my Podcasts is from this excellent guide written by Jelmer Jonkman .
I encourage you to give it a try!

So Far, So Good

2005-07-25T08:28:00.000-05:00

Brought the LifeDrive into work to see if I would have any problems with the wireless network here, and I shouldn't have worried- it connected up like a champ! I also connected to my laptop using Bluetooth, and transferred a couple of files with no problem.

Hello!

2005-07-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

Hi. This is a blog that will focus on the new Palm Mobile Manager called the LifeDrive. I picked one
up over the weekend and I've been pretty impressed with it.

Why the LifeDrive ? Well, I considered it and the Dell Axim V50. Both provided Bluetooth, Wifi (802.11b), web and email access, music and video playback, and voice recording among other things. The Dell runs Windows Media 2003 and the LifeDrive runs Palm OS 5.4 (aka Garnet).
However, when I looked at reviews of battery life, the LifeDrive was reviewed at having much longer battery life than the Dell. I had also used a Palm m130 so I was more familiar with the Palm OS. Also, the LifeDrive had a built-in 4GB hard drive, and I was interested in using it to listen to Podcasts. So I went with the LifeDrive, and so far my experinces have been pretty positive.

This is the stuff I've done with it so far:

-Connected it to my Motorola V551 via BlueTooth
-Connected it to my home network Linksys wireless router
-Surfed the web
-Read my email
-Connected to a work Unix machine via ssh
-Accessed the shared files on my PCs
-Moved all my MP3s to it
-Set up IPodder to put the podcasts I want on it

I'll post more details on how I did these things and more as I learn how to do more with it. I hope you enjoy this blog and I look forward to sharing with people about this exciting new product.