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To
use your Palm handheld computer to its optimum, you must first
understand its basics. This article will introduce you to
the basic software and hardware of the Palm handheld computer.
Your device has four hardware buttons at the bottom, one each
for the following four applications: Date Book, Address Book,
ToDo list and Memo Pad.
Apart from the four hardware buttons, the Palm handheld also
has four silkscreen buttons (below the screen area). These
are Applications, Menu, Calculator and Find.
Most Palm OS devices additionally have a Contrast dial, usually
on one side of the device. Use this to adjust the contrast
and clarity of the display.
Applications installed on your Palm handheld computer are
divided into various categories: Main, System, Games, Utilities,
Unfiled, etc. You may add or edit these categories from the
Edit Categories menu on the top right of the screen.
The category ‘Main’ contains Date Book, Address
Book, ToDo list and Memo Pad. These are the primary applications
of the Palm OS. Under ‘Main’ you will also find
Calculator, Expense and Mail. The category ‘System’
contains HotSync, Prefs, and Security. You can switch between
the various categories by tapping on the Applications silkscreen
button. This will cycle through the available categories and
list the apps within each category.
The Menu silkscreen button will bring up the primary menu
of the Palm OS. This will list Delete, Beam, Category and
Info. Use Delete to delete unwanted applications and to make
space for new applications when needed. Use Beam to share
and exchange applications with friends. Use Category to move
applications between categories. Newly installed applications
will list under the Unfiled category. Use this menu option
to move a newly installed game from the Unfiled category into
the Games category. Info will give you critical information
about your device. The Info menu will tell you how much memory
exists on your device and the available free space. Within
the Info menu you will find Version, Records and Size. Version
tells you the version of your Palm Operating System as well
as the versions of various software installed on your device.
Records lets you keep a tab on the number of items in any
given application, such as the number of entries in your address
book. Size informs you of the size of each app, very useful
when you run out of space and need to know which apps are
taking up precious space.
When you tap on the Menu button and select Options from the
top, you will see a Preferences option. Click on it and you
will get a View by Icon or List option. Selecting List will
allow you to see your applications as a list instead of as
icons.
The Calculator silkscreen button will bring up a basic calculator.
If your work involves a lot of number crunching, you can download
a scientific calculator. There are lots of scientific calculators
available for the Palm OS, including EasyCalc, Parens and
PowerOne.
Next, let’s take a look at some of the basic applications.
Date Book
Date Book allows you to keep track of various appointments,
birthdates, anniversaries, important events, etc. You can
set alarms for various events. The standard Date Book application
has limited functionality. If you’re the type that depends
on the Date Book to keep track of your life, consider downloading
enhanced Date Book applications such as Date Book Plus or
DateBk4 which significantly improve the inbuilt options.
Address Book
Address Book is perhaps the most useful of all applications
for the novice user. As you understand and appreciate the
capabilities of your device, this will change and you will
find far greater and more meaningful uses for your Palm handheld
computer. The Address Book can store thousands of names, addresses
and personal details of all your contacts. Did you know that
you can create and beam a digital business card using the
Address Book? To do this, first add your name, address and
details to your own address book. Then select your name from
the list of addresses in the Address Book and tap on Menu
then Select Business Card. You can now begin beaming your
digital business card to friends and associates that have
a handheld.
Tip: Keep the Address Book hardware button pressed for a few
seconds to begin beaming your digital business card at any
time and from any application.
ToDo List
The
ToDo list keeps track of things to do; for your day, week,
month, year or life. Be automatically informed as deadlines
approach, keep track of your progress on a project, or just
list your life’s ambitions and tick them away as you
achieve your goals. As you grow fond of your many ToDo lists,
download a more powerful To Do software. ToDo+ is an excellent
replacement for the inbuilt application.
Memo Pad
The
Memo Pad is your digital scribble pad. Your slate, post-it
note, wall; all rolled into one. Use it to quickly take down
phone numbers, instructions, directions, etc. Install Memo
Plus to significantly enhance your inbuilt Memo Pad. With
Memo Plus you can actually write by hand onto your Palm handheld
computer. Pen down your thoughts on the move and refer to
them later. Write a short story or novel. The Memo Pad is
your new best friend.
Mail
The
Mail application is used to synchronise with your desktop
computer’s email client. The Palm OS can synchronise
with a host of email clients, including Microsoft Outlook
and Lotus Notes. You can read and respond to emails while
travelling and synchronise with your office or home computer.
Attach a Palm Modem to be able to send and receive e-mail
without the need to synchronise with a desktop computer. The
Palm Modem works over a landline and allows you to connect
via VSNL or any other dial-up ISP. If you prefer connecting
wirelessly, you will need a cellular phone with an inbuilt
infrared modem. You can then check and reply to e-mail while
sitting in your car.
Graffiti
The Graffiti application under System will teach you how to
use the handwriting recognition option of your Palm handheld
computer. Graffiti is the primary input method of the Palm
handheld computer. Though not strictly handwriting recognition,
it is not very different from normal handwriting, and is surprisingly
easy to learn. Use the Graffiti application to learn and master
this input method. If you do a lot of typing on your device,
consider purchasing an attachable portable keyboard.
HotSync
The HotSync application is your Palm handheld computer’s
link to your office or home computer. Sit your device into
the cradle, connect the cradle to your computer, and press
the HotSync button. Your Palm handheld computer will now begin
to synchronise data with your computer. New software can be
installed onto your handheld device this way.
Security settings
You might, by now, be concerned about the privacy of the information
you store on your Palm handheld computer. You can password
protect any address, phone number, memo, To do list, etc.
Go to System/Security and click on Password unassigned. Assign
a password and memorise it. Set Private Records to Hide. You
can now password protect any data on your device. To password
protect, for example, an entry in the address book, tap on
the Details option after you finish typing in the name and
number and tick mark the Private option. Any data marked Private
in this way will only be visible after you enter your password.
You may even use the Turn off and Lock Device option to protect
your Palm handheld computer from powering on without your
authorisation.
(Most applications mentioned in this and following articles
are available for download from www.palmgear.com . If you
still have trouble finding any application feel free to e-mail
the author).
Ashish Gupta is the Founder and President of
The Indian Palm User Group. He can be reached at ash@notcomguys.com
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