Pocket Press
Issue Date

Freeware Application Review

Pocket Press Freeware Reviews : 2001

CONVERT v3.4.2
Author : Brett
Download from : http://www.jps.net/brettnkt/convert.html

If you need to convert one unit of measurement to another, there is no need to look any further than Convert. It will convert units in sixteen fields, from acceleration to volume. Of course, it includes the standard length, area, temperature conversions for those of us still baffled by the metric system. But can also translate kilobytes to bytes, cups to ounces, and miles per hour to knots. If you need to know how many of somethings there are something else, this is the application for you.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 8

Z CATALOG
Author : Andrew Plotkin
Download from : http://www.eblong.com/zarf/zcatalog.html

With a little digging, you can find the names and versions of most applications on your Palm. And, depending on which version of the Palm OS you use, you can probably beam documents and databases. But if you have Z Catalog, you can do much, much more.

Z Catalog functions as a complete File Manager for the Palm OS. All files, both in the ROM and in RAM, are listed by Z Catalog. You can see the Type, Creator, and Size of any file or database, as well as all the applications. You can find the Creator ID number, check the backup bit (and reset it to your liking), check the number of records associated with an application, beam, and delete files. If you've added any third party applications to your Palm, you'll find Z Catalog useful.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 10

THINKDB v2.0
Author : ThinkingBytes Software
Download from : http://www.thinkingbytes.com/

ThinkDB v1.4 was one of the most popular Palm database programs. While it lacked some of HanDBase's power, and it didn't have the large collection of applets and free, user created databases that the older, more established database programs offered, it did have an attractive interface and an easy to use forms creator.

Thinkingbytes, the creators of ThinkDB, have just issued ThinkDB v2.0 as a free upgrade for all users, registered or not. (The desktop conduit, which is only available in a Windows version, now costs $35.00.)  If you are looking for a Palm only database program, ThinkDB might be for you. It's intuitive, easy to use, can link and join databases, offers a multitude of field options, and has most of the features of its more powerful cousins.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 8

SECUREMEMO
Author : Certicom
Download from : No Longer Available

If you carry any sensitive data on you PDA, you've probably thought about some sort of encryption or password protection. There are many different approaches to security - but Certicom offers one of the best: Secure Memo.

SecureMemo uses the MemoPad's database, but integrates an 128 bit encryption key into each memo. If you want to keep information from prying eyes, you just check the "Encrypt Data" checkbox at the bottom of the memo. All encrypted memos show up in the MemoPad's index list with a small padlock icon next to the title. If you tap on the memo's name, you are prompted for a password. Supply it, and the memo is automatically decrypted. Otherwise, the memo is displayed as gibberish.

For your security, encrypted memos HotSynced over to the desktop remain encrypted. Within the Palm desktop, all encrypted memos are a meaningless stream of letters and symbols. Unfortunately, even if you know your SecureMemo password, you cannot decrypt memos on the computer. The lack of a desktop component is SecureMemo's only drawback. If you want to unencrypt a memo for use on your PC or Mac, you have to do it on the Palm before you HotSync.

(Note April, 2001: SecureMemo seems to have disappeared from Certicom's web site. I hope it will be back.)

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 9

HANDYSHOPPER
Author: Christopher Antos
Download from : http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=55769220001007161507&prodID=5314

HandyShopper v1.7 has been one of the Palm's must have applications for years. HandyShopper v2.0 is still listed as a beta, but it is very stable. The beta status seems to be due mainly to the author's constant adding of features and improvements - rather than bug fixes. If you want a shopping list, you need look no further. HandyShopper allows you to enter lists for several stores. You can list and compare prices, coupons, and aisle location (for power shoppers).

But HandyShopper can also be used for almost any kind of list making. Many users find that HandyShopper is the perfect database for tracking DVD, CD, and video libraries. It can be used in place of the built in ToDo List. It's check lists can help organize any task.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 8

HACKDELETEHACK
Author : Bozidar Benc
Download from: http://www.benc.hr/hackdel.htm

Many PDA users will tell you that if you don't use hacks, you're losing half of your PDA's value. However, no matter how useful hacks are, eventually you'll want to delete one. If you try to delete an active hack, you can crash your Palm. HackDeleteHack will warn you if you try to delete an active hack, preventing crashes.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 8

TITRAX
Author : Bernd Esser & Dave Sifry
Download from: http://www.titrax.com/

Titrax allows you to track the time spent on individual projects or clients. It's one of the best freeware Time Clock type applications for consultants or others who bill their time. The interface is clean and simple. Each project is given a line. Tap on the project to start timing, tap again to stop. You can log a project's time to a note, to MemoPad, or directly to your Datebook. Hours can be measured cumulatively for long projects or instance by instance for quick billing.

This is a relatively simple and straightforward application. It doesn't integrate with Quicken or Expensibles or any other accounting package. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a direct way to export its data to a spreadsheet, either, which would be very handy. But if what you want to do is log your time onsite with a minimum of fuss, Titrax handles the job quite well.

PROGECT MANAGER
Author : Laurent Burgbacher
Download from : http://sourceforge.net/projects/progect/

Outliners, ToDo Lists, and Checklists are naturals for the Palm. If you are an inveterate listmaker, but don't want to spend $20.00 or more on an outliner, Progect Manager is the application for you. Like BrainForest, it offers the ability to create hierarchical checklists with sublists that can be either dated or checked off. It works equally well for creating multi-tiered ToDo lists or for planning and tracking the stages of a complex project.

Progect Manager is an open source, GNU licensed application. It is still listed as being in the Beta stage (as are most apps at Source Forge), but I found v 1.x to be quite stable. (However, you might want to be careful about trusting irreplaceable or non-recreatable data to any beta software.) Features are still being added to Progect Manager, although it is already quite handy.

SOFTTRACK
Author : PalmGear & Bozidar Benc
Download from : http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=55769220001007161507&prodID=3443

If you are looking for a simple database to keep track of all your Palm software, this entry from PalmGear might just be the one. Every time you start the application, it will scan your Palm's software. SoftTrack automatically enters the name, version number, and installation date of each application. It allows you to enter the web site URL, the registration key, and the date purchased. Eventually, you are going to need this information -- if you use SoftTrack, you'll never miss an upgrade or lose a registration key again.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 7

CRUISE CONTROL
Author : BackUpBuddy Software
Download from : http://www.backupbuddy.com/cc/prod_cruisecontrol_details.html

There are several shareware over-clocking applications available, including Afterburner and Tornado. There is also some controversy about whether they damage your PDA's processor or not. There is no doubt, however, that over-clocking applications interfere with beaming and infrared functions.  Luckily, there is a simple, free answer for anyone who wants to speed up their Palm without changing the clock speed and without giving up the ability to HotSync vis the IR port: Cruise Control is the application you want. Neal Bridge's Benchmark shows a performance increase of up to 60% with Cruise Control.

Cruise Control is not a true over-clocking application. It works by decreasing the number of wait-states for access to DRAM and the number of cycles required for DRAM address multiplexing. (This is something that Visors do by default, which is one reason that a Visor Deluxe will always seem faster than a Palm IIIxe, even though they both use the same processor.) It does not interfere with HotSync or beaming operations and does not alter the system clock speed. Additionally, its settings are preserved after a soft-reset.

CruiseControl only works with Palm Organizers that use the Motorola DragonBallEZ Microprocessor (MC68EZ328), such as the PalmV and PalmIIIX. It should not be used on other Palm devices.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 8

SELECTTIME HACK
Author : Shuji Fukomoto
Download from : http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=55769220001007161507&prodID=6655

For most people, SelectTimeHack is sort of like the PDA itself: if you need it, you really, really need it. If you don't need it, you can't imagine what possible use it has.

The Palm Datebook is calibrated in 5 minute intervals. Generally, this is more than adequate. But some people need to be able to schedule or track their time to the minute. What if you need to set an alarm or make a call at 4: 52 PM? Maybe you charge for your time by the minute? If you use Datebk4, no problem -- this is one of the many, many enhancements Datebk4 includes. For everyone else (including ActionNames users), there is SelectTime Hack. It adds one minute increment adjustments to Datebook's time settings.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 6

MAÑANA
Author : Bill Sexton
Download from : http://www.palmgear.com/handspring/product.cfm?prodID=5278&SID=

Do you find your ToDo list cluttered with items you never quite manage to do? Have you been looking for a way to keep track of ideas for not-quite-thought-out projects? Look no further. Mañana is the ToDo list for things you have no intention of doing.

Mañana is based on the Palm's built in ToDo list. It has the same look and, unfortunately, the same limitations. In fact, you could create a category in your ToDo List called Mañana, and you'd have this app. Except - Mañana allows you to create an additional 15 independent categories of its own. So you can create and plan a project in Mañana, replete with half baked, impractical, or unrealizable suggestions, noodle through it slowly, and then move items over to your real ToDo list when they reach the action stage.

LAUNCHER III
Author: Bozidar Benc
Download from : http://www.benc.hr/lnchiii.htm

Launcher III is one of those free applications so good that you can't believe it's free. It offers a tabbed interface for the Palm's home/launch screen, allowing you to arrange your applications by category. A series of small icons at the bottom of the screen allow you to turn off and lock your Palm, revert to the built in launcher, check your remaining free memory or battery levels, and cycle between the day, date, and time. Even with all these functions, Launcher III remains compact enough for use on 2 Mb Palms like the m100.

Launcher III v1.5x does not work with OS 3.5 on the Palm IIIC. The all new Launcher III v 2.x will work on the Palm IIIC and the Visor Prism. v2.2 (now available) removes the annoying ads that appeared in v 2.0. 

PLEASE NOTE: LAUNCHER III IS NO LONGER FREE

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 10

KEYB+GRAFFITI HACK
Author : Rui Oliveira
Download from : http://www.daggerware.com/mischack.htm

The Palm's built in "soft" keyboard can be useful, but invoking it disables Graffiti input. Keyb+Grafitti Hack allows you to enter letters or numbers with Graffiti while you are using the keyboard. It's a small thing, but I can't imagine using the Palm keyboard without it.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 9

BENCHMARK v2.0
Author : Neal Bridges
Download from : http://www.quartus.net/products/benchmark/

Have you ever wondered how fast your Palm or Visor is compared to another model? Do over-clocking applications really make a difference in performance? Neal Bridges wrote Benchmark to answer exactly these sorts of questions. Taking the Palm IIIe and Palm IIIxe as the standard (100%), Benchmark will compare your individual PDA to the performance of a Palm Pro/Palm III, the Palm IIIx/Palm V/Palm m100, the Palm Vx, the Palm IIIc, the Visor Deluxe, and the Visor Platinum. (The Visor Platinum, by the way, is benchmarked at twice the speed of the Palm IIIxe.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 7

EASYLAUNCH HACK v 0.08
Author : Hynek Syrovatka
Download from : http://www.mujweb.cz/www/hysy

EasyLaunch is an application launcher. It works with both stylus swipes and button combinations. If you find that you use the same 7 or 8 applications all day long, you can assign a stylus swipe or hardware button combination to those particular apps. For instance, with EasyLaunch you can open the MemoPad with a quick press of the MemoPad button or open WordSmith with a long-hold press of the same button. Very handy. However, the more complicated you make your button assignments or stylus swipes, or the more applications you try to assign, the harder it is to remember what launches what. Sometimes it is simpler to just tap the Home button and then tap the application icon.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 7

X MASTER
Author : LinkeSOFT
Download from : http://www.linkesoft.com/

Edward Keyes should get a royalty from Palm for every Palm OS PDA sold. If HackMaster hadn't extended the capabilities of the Palm Pilot far beyond an electronic organizer, today's Palms (and Visors and Sonys) wouldn't control 80% of the PDA market. If there even was a PDA market. HackMaster was so stable and so well designed that it has remained basically unchanged for years. X-Master is a freeware replacement for HackMaster. It seems relatively stable and it basically does what HackMaster does. (However, I have to admit, I registered HackMaster about two days after I got my first Palm and I've never felt the urge to switch to another program. At $5.00, HackMaster remains one of the best Palm bargains available.)

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 7

The Palm OS has its own ideas about the way you should work. If you open AddressBook and begin entering Graffiti, it will scroll down the list of addresses until it finds a match for the letters you wrote. However, when you do the same thing in MemoPad, you immediately open a new Memo and start writing with the first stroke of your stylus. Your Palm sincerely and firmly believes you should use the Scroll Up and Scroll Down Buttons when you open MemoPad. Snap! Memo is the first application I've found that adds the AddressBook style scrolling to the MemoPad index. Snap! Memo itself is a relatively small application. It uses the Palm's MemoPad database - so all Snap! Memos are identical to MemoPad memos. You can reassign the MemoPad hardware button to Snap! Memo. Then, next time you want to find the four memos that begin with the letter "R" in a list with sixty some entries, just press the Memo button and write "R" in the Graffiti area.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 7

Virtual Keyboard is the freeware version of Gustavo Broos' D-Keyboard. It includes almost all the features of D-Keyboard, and many more features than most keyboard enhancements and replacements. Virtual Keyboard allows you to choose between the Palm OS 3.3 keyboard layout, the traditional QWERTY keyboard, the D-Keyboard, a variety of international keyboards (French, German, Spanish, with the posiibility of more), and a compact keyboard for small screens. You can tell it to start with the enhanced numerical keypad or the alphabetical keyboard. You can add a row of the most commonly used international letters to the top of the keyboard. All that would be enough to make Virtual Keyboard a must have replacement for the Palm's built in keyboard. But Virtual Keyboard also accepts both Graffiti and tap (keyboard) input - eliminating the need for Keyboard+Grafitti Hack.

Most remarkable of all, Virtual Keyboard makes D-Keyboard's editing features freely available. At the top of the screen, once Virtual Keyboard is invoked, you will find icons for undo, redo, cut, copy, paste, select all, a simple find & replace utility, and the Palm shortcut symbol. Palm IIIC owners can even select the color of the keyboard.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 10

Many folks carry private information on their Palms. Some people use third party encryption software to protect passwords or credit card numbers. Some people rely on the Palm's Turn Off and Lock feature. Some people have such a hard time coming up with a password that is not also the name of their cat or dog that they don't use any security at all. GridLock might help those people. GridLock consists of a 5 x 5 grid of white squares. Rather than write in a password using Grafitti or the Palm's keyboard, you tap on the squares. (There is an incredibly large number of potential combinations.) Once you've chosen your password/grid, you can also decide how and when you want your Palm to turn off and lock automatically, e.g, on power off, after 15 minutes, after 11 PM, etc. However, beware before you start playing with this application: if you forget your password, there is no cheat available to help you recall it. Remembering 3rd square top, first and fourth square second row, fifth square third row, and so on, is not really any easier than remembering Y67jh8t. It is just easier to enter.

Rating (1 = it crashed my Palm and I deleted it; 10 = I couldn't live without it) : 6

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Pocket Press Freeware Reviews : 2000
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