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Handhelds Hardware

What Are Your Ten Best Palm Apps? 37

Posted by Cliff from the where-is-Dave-Letterman-when-you-need-'im? dept.
doggo asks: "Having just won a brand new Handspring Visor from one of those new .com startups, I find myself happily perusing the various Palm software sites looking for good applications & documents, so I wonder what /. readers find to be the most useful things? For me so far, it's CSpotRun, so I can have copies of various *nix faqs & mini-manuals with me, and a couple of SF stories in case I get caught in line or waiting for a plane or whatever. There's a plethora of stuff out there, and rather than waste my time installing and un-installing various apps, I thought I'd poll other readers on their choices. What are yours?"
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What are Your Ten Best Palm Apps? More

What are Your Ten Best Palm Apps?

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  • Ten? I dunno.

    But my favorite apps are:
    AvantGo (less so since hollywood.com killed their movie listings channel)

    Mapopolis (www.mapopolis.com) - Maps for anywhere in the US.

    TealPhone - upgrade to the contact manager app, don't have a URL. TealSoft makes a lot of neat Palm apps. Although I think the Visor comes with an enhanced contact manager to begin with...

    RPN - RPN calculator. Again, don't have a URL. Search on any of the Palm software archive sites.

    Might want to try DopeWars. Some people love it, some people (myself included) find it insanely boring. You don't know until you've tried it.
    • Certainly, CSpotRun has been useful. Living in Pgh, there's a weekly db that I download that lists currently playing movies. I haven't gotten around to saving other stuff on my Palm yet, but I will.
    • As others have said, DateBk[34]. The Visor comes with an older version of DateBk3, but the upgrades provide some noticable improvements sometimes. DateBk4 looks too busy for me, but 3 is just what I needed.
    • Parens {Lite}. If you like Revers Polish Notation, you might prefer RPN, but I've not been converted yet myself. Parens Lite provides standard scientific calculator functions and a backspace key.
    • Vexed: it's a great game until you beat it. Since there don't appear to be separate .pdb files of levels, but all built-in, there's simply no replay value.
    • PocketChess. I'm not a great chess player, but it's still a good game. If you have some chess-playing Palm-owning friends, you can even play against each other via the IR port. The AI isn't bad for a 68k processor :)

  • Careful (Score:3)

    by ptomblin ( 1378 ) <ptomblin@xcski.com> on Friday October 13, 2000 @02:56AM (#709224) Homepage Journal
    I had a bunch of cool stuff on my Visor, until I noticed that it was freezing up and had to be reset more frequently than NT with an odd numbered service pack. So I uninstalled all but the built in stuff and I'm slowly installing things one at a time and leaving out anything that I don't absolutely need. So no more games, no more Launcher III (although I hope to get that back soon), no Jot (I might try it again some day). Right now, besides the built-ins I've got:
    • MiniCalc, a small spreadsheet
    • AvLogbook, a log book for my flying
    • CoPilot, probably the best flight planning application ever written, and it's free.
    • AvantGo, in order to have a copy of Suck and Slashdot to read in the can.
    • BEFH, the Bastard Excuse From Hell
    • BigClock, a cool alarm and timer application.
    • QDraw and QPaint for sketches
    • IPilot for practising for my Instrument Flight Rules test.

    One of these days I'll probably replace AvantGo with Sitescooper and/or Plucker, but right now I can't be bothered.
  • Far and away, the most useful program that I use is Handyshopper [palmgear.com]. It's nominally a shopping list program, but I also use it as my ToDo list as well. It's well written, incredibly stable, and very easy to use.

    Another useful program is Parens [palmgear.com]. It's a very nice scientific calculator.

    For mucking around with the raw .prc and .pdb files, I like OnBoard RsrcEdit [palmgear.com]. It's a bit large, but it will let you manipulate databases and resource files at a fairly low level. I also like Z'Catalog [edoc.com] for erasing old .pdb files that weren't correctly cleaned up when you removed an application, or for beaming arbitrary files around.

    There's an sntp client called (not surprisingly) "SNTP", but I can't find a link for it.

    For games, There's always SimCity [palmgear.com], and anything else on www.palmgear.com [palmgear.com].

  • A most addictive game. GPL.

    http://boris.qub.ac.uk/tube/Projects/index.shtml

  • The Palma Sutra (Score:4)

    by Bazman ( 4849 ) on Friday October 13, 2000 @03:10AM (#709227) Journal
    You do keep your Palmtop next to your bed dont you? In grayscale and colour versions:

    http://palmfun.multimania.com/en/MainFrame.html

    Baz
  • Haven't seen these mentioned here:

    Niggle [ozemail.com.au] (Scrabble for Palm Pilot).

    Tide Tool [toolworks.com] (tides at almost any location)

    Strip [zetetic.net] (encrypted password saver)

    Showtimes [jrray.org] (keep local movie showings on your Palm)

    All are freeware (Tide Tool and Strip are GPL), and Strip (the only one that requires regular synchronization) comes with Unix tools.

  • Depends what you use your Palm for... (Score:3)

    by zarmok ( 20858 ) on Friday October 13, 2000 @08:51PM (#709229)
    I have had a IIIx for almost 18 months now (invaluable!)
    I still find the standard apps useful enough for keeping notes / calender etc...

    Here are some of the other apps I've installed

    Launcher III
    Replaces the standard PalmOS 'shell' with a nicer tabbed version. you can drag/drop apps to sort them/delete them/beam them.

    HackMaster
    very useful little program, that accepts many 1000's of plugin 'hacks' that modify the way the PalmOS works.

    Palmamp.
    I have an MP3 player in my car (old Pentium). I use PalmAmp to control the music while I'm driving (via serial cable) Controls playing/playlist/equalizer.

    Diddlebug.
    Lets you scribble notes, and set a reminder.. don't have to use graffiti to jot down quick notes.

    Address+
    A small addon for the standard Address book. Integrates every Postcode in Australia, for quick lookup.

    FreeCell
    very nice version of Freecell

    Eudora Web/Email
    I have a TDK Globalpulse cable, that links to my Nokia 5110. very good email/web access while on the road.

    YAUC
    Yet another Unit convertor. Handles just about every obscure unit to convert to/from

    TealInfo
    mini doc-type viewer. there are many TealInfo Folios covering a wide range of topics. Folios are hyperlinked documents. Ones I frequently reference include: detailed info on all Intel CPUs, list of nearly every TCP/IP Port etc..

    All these apps can be found on www.palmgear.com [palmgear.com]

    Rohan Beckett

  • Some "essentials"... (Score:3)

    by MortimerK ( 22530 ) on Friday October 13, 2000 @04:30AM (#709230)

    If you're mildy familiar with motorola assembly, grab the Onboard Resource Editor. It's great fun. You can examine all the databases of every app you have installed and alter anything you want. Dead easy to disable nagware.

    Games: Pyramid [seahorsesoft.com], Dopewars [pdaguy.com], Lines [bigfoot.com], Freecell [bigfoot.com], and Vexed [tsx.org].

    Top Secret [clicklite.com]. For storing your passwords etc. (protected my TinyDES encryption).

    Planetarium [www.aho.ch]. The best astronomy palm companion.

    MindSpiral [smasher.com]. Just to get freaked out.

    Invert. [pstec.de] Invert your screen (because some grayscale apps, when backlit, look dodgy)

    Convert [jps.net]. The best conversion table app.

  • Clearly the first one on the list has to be AvantGo.

    Next, I've got some more 'specific' apps to what I do, specifically, the Programmers Calculator, which has great hex-bin-dec conversion and some other nice features for doing computer-stuff (seems to have gone missing, but there are other similar calculators). I also have to report my hours working on various projects, so Titrax (http://www.titrax.com/ [titrax.com]) is a nice app for keeping track of that without too much effort.

    Personally, I like apps that allow me to sync with other data sources. Anybody know of an good way to sync databases to a palm app using a linux box (maybe a plugin for jpilot [linuxave.net]?

    - Mike

  • QED is an editor, does some minimal rich-text editing, and stores the doc in a compressed format so you can have your entire novel-in-progress on your palm. Way cool.

    BrainForest is somewhere between a hyped-up to do list, a project planner, and a Gannt (sp?) chart in an outline style. It works outline style, but you're able to assign details to things, such as percent complete, or target dates. You can then expand or contract the elements below (as in child elements of parent item). Hard to describe, so just try it.

    Those are two of the three apps I've ever bought for my Palm, and I'm still using my original Pilot (before the 1000 and 5000 days).

  • Ooops (Score:1)

    by jfunk ( 33224 )
    Great, I press 'preview,' it looks good, so I press 'submit.' It doesn't look good.

    Sigh.
  • I always go for the GPL stuff. I have a natural aversion to shareware, where you end up having a million apps which do the same thing, but not very good. That's one of the things that bugs me about Windows, and disappointed me about the Palm.

    That said, I always go to SourceForge first for Palm apps. Some of the shareware is good, though.

    So my list:
    <ul><li>GNU Keyring - Great for encrypting passwords</li>
    <li>HotDate - A good overview on one screen, and a simple reminder alarm where you simply select a time from the menu and it will beep that many minutes from now</li>
    <li>PCash - Keeping track of what's in my bank account is a good thing, especially when I don't have an internet connection. I live in Canada where we use our bank cards to make purchases at stores and restaurants (I only need a Visa for online shopping). It comes in really handy when I want to buy something expensive</li>
    <li>Patience - It's almost like PySol for the Palm - 'nuff said</li>
    <li>Rally 1000 - Oh the time I wasted playing mille (BSD games collection) back when I had a 2400 baud modem to download Linux stuff from SunSite (using Minicom of course), now I have graphics</li>
    <li>Theremini - I'm a fan of the real Theremin, this piece of software spread through my office like a virus</li>
    <li>pBill - xBill for the Palm</li>
    <li>LispMe - I did engineering rather than CS, so I didn't learn Lisp. My boss is an AI freak (having a PhD in it) and constantly praises it (Apparently Crash Bandicoot was written in Lisp).Me, I want to be able to hack on the Gimp more effectively, so I play with Lisp on airplanes, etc</li>
    <li>HackMaster - Yep, some shareware, but a shining example of it</li>
    <li>DateBook+ - I'm glad Handspring included this little gem</li></ul>

    Now, all I need is software to sync my Palm data into my KDE2 apps. For now, I'm using JPilot, which is pretty good, by itself, and doesn't mind that I'll be pressing the HotSync button before JPilot's sync button. Ah, the joys of USB.
  • I like ptelnet [em.com.br] (formerly known as PalmTelnet). I have used it to connect to headless Linux boxes that are running agetty on their serial ports. It can also connect via the TCP/IP stack which is handy too.
  • "I've got a list of about 50 places that I think make cool software and will post them if desired."

    Yeah, post 'em, post 'em!

    ...SimCity for palm? Oh, I'm in trouble. Vindigo looks cool.
  • Ah, lookit this!

    http://www.openhandheld.org/

    GPL'd palm software. That's the ticket!

  • pilot-frotz (Score:3)

    by noelyap ( 36411 ) on Friday October 13, 2000 @11:41AM (#709238) Homepage
    The Palm is such a great platform for interactive fiction. Why limit yourself to just reading? Go get pilot-frotz [geocities.com]frobnitz [newsguy.com] and some text adventures [ifarchive.org].
  • I have used these apps more than anything else over the past six months:
    • EGG TIMER - it's a countdown timer. It's easy to set, easy to read, and it doesn't take up much memory. It's perfect for me.
    • AVANTGO - Take the Internet with you...for "free".
    • FIREPAD and FIRECONVERTER - takes a snapshot of a web page (or anything displayed on my PC) and downloads it to my Visor. Grab static images of sites of web sites too large or too complex to be retrieved thru AvantGo.
    My dream device: the VisorPhone! Too bad it uses GSM. Too bad it costs more than my Visor Deluxe!
  • I haven't seen it mentioned yet...

    I use AporticDoc for all my literature needs. Also, DocConvert will make AportisDoc files out of Word files.

    I just c&p, convert, install. That has to be one of the most useful features to me.

    Of course, never forget HackMaster. And PocketChess, Fretboard (if you're a stringed instrument player), SharpCalc, LauncherIII (for a better interface), and some others that I probably can't remember.


    _______________
    you may quote me
  • I'm glad someone else mentioned vindigo. This is so cool, I can only use it when I'm out of town in a supported city, but I love it!

    I have a Visor and I still use DateBk3 instead of Datebook+ because it has support for combined ToDos and Schedule.

    I hadn't heard of SimCity for the palm, but it's now at the top of my wishlist.

    Another favorite is Mathpad [probe.net] which is sort of a math-aware memo pad. You can include formulas in memos and it can compute them. In addition to the celsius/farenheit and gram/oz conversions, I have a tip calculator with variables for price, tip rate, and # of people and it tells how much each person owes.

    Also, it isn't a app but it is my favorite hack: I have a visor but no springboards yet. So I keep post it notes in the springboard slot and use my pen/stylus to write notes etc.. for the palm impaired.

  • Oh, where to start? The Visor is so useful, I've got it loaded with stuff. Some of these (AvantGo and RPN) were already mentioned but I'll list them anyway.

    I have never used it, but a friend of mine is trying out the Geode at http://www.geodiscovery.com [geodiscovery.com].

    Someone mentioned DateBk3/DateBk4, and I agree, but know that the Visor includes this software as Date Book+ (thanks, Handspring!).

    I've got a list of about 50 places that I think make cool software and will post them if desired.

  • I'm glad someone else mentioned vindigo. This is so cool, I can only use it when I'm out of town in a supported city, but I love it!

    My wife & I used it to find a place to eat last time we were in DC. That night out is now one of the most memorable of our trip. Very kewl.

    I have a Visor and I still use DateBk3 instead of Datebook+ because it has support for combined ToDos and Schedule.

    My default view in DB+ is the list view, where it shows ToDos and Schedule in the same list. Then I hit the Date button again and get the day view. At the top are my ToDos, then it lists the regular hourly day view. Same as DB3. Are you talking about something different?

  • These are in no particular order, and many are repeats from earlier in the discussion. I went through much of Palmgear when I first got my Visor Deluxe and thought the enclosed list of companies made some pretty cool products.

  • Top Ten #1764 (Score:3)

    by yooden ( 115278 ) on Friday October 13, 2000 @04:05AM (#709245) Homepage
    1. Hackmaster [daggerware.net]
    Irreplaceable. Get it and pay the guy.

    2. DateBk3 [pimlicosoftware.com]
    My Bread & Butter app. It's a Datebook/Todo replacement with lots of very useful stuff. There's also a DateBk4.

    3. Commute [liii.com]
    Bus schedules

    4. QED [visionary2000.com]
    Doc reader/editor

    5. OnBoard C [individeo.net]
    If your're into coding for fun, this is a refreshing experience.

    6. TextPlus [smartcell.com]
    Frequency-based word and phrase suggestion in any Plam application

    7. PopUp Favorites [www.benc.hr]
    8. PopUp Calculator [www.benc.hr]
    Extremly useful helper apps. One is to switch tasks, the other is a small yet powerful calulator.

    9. Font Hack [sergem.net] & Alpha-NX [palmgear.com]
    FontHack allows you to choose your own fonts, selectable for each app you have installed.
    Alpha-NX is small but very readable.

    10. TapPad [tappad.com]
    Adds some nice features to your Graffiti area.

    a. SpadeLover Spades [jump.net]
    b. Rally 1000 [hypermart.net]
    Games. Don't miss them
  • Metro [palmgear.com] - Need to know the subway trains for any subway system in the world - Metro will get you there.
    Currency [xoom.com] - For when I travel overseas I can use this currency calculator to figure out if lunch will break my bank.
    PocketRogue [palmgear.com] - Just love it.
  • PocketChess [palmgear.com].
    --
  • Vindigo if you live in a real city
    Datebk 3
    DBiced - to edit those Datebk3 icons
    FlashPro + FlashPack
    TealLock
    X-Man
    Rally 1000
    omniremote for when I can't find my normal remote
    hackmaster - menuHACK, shiftHACK, selectHACK

    -nuff said
  • I've heard big problems with the Eudora software on Palm devices. You expereience no problems?
  • you can check out my site [joshforman.com] for a full list, but here's some highlights... FlashPro+FlashPack (www.trgnet.com), BugMe (hausofmaus.com), Z'Catalog/pz/Insider is a good thing to have (those are three similar apps that show you all the DB's on your Visor).... if they aren't linked at the above URL, you can find em on PalmGear.com
  • Though you really need a Palm III or better (with backlighting) to appreciate this beauty.

    I just downloaded it.
  • When I first got my Handspring Visor I loaded everything that seemed remotely interesting. It now makes 3 months that I have my Visor and I find that there are only 3 applications I use extensively (beyond the standard phonebook and address book):

    1 - iSilo [isilo.com]
    This app is great at converting HTML pages to load in a nice compact format. The registered copy has hyperlink support. This will also read standard Palm document. I use this for keeping my favorite http://www.linuxdoc.org HOWTOs handy.

    2 - HandyShopper (found at PilotGear) [pilotgear.com]
    This is a very well designed shopping list manager. It allows you to maintain items across several stores (e.g. soap can be bought at the grocery store and the drugstore), and it allows you to sort the list by aisle. Best of all it's Freeware.

    3 - AvantGo [www.avantgo.comhref]
    You'll always have some bathroom reading handy with this one.

  • Concur--STRIB absolutely kicks butt--and has saved mine many times. I sleep much better knowing my passwords are tucked away in an IDEA encrypted blanket and are only a passphrase away.
  • Unlike the "market-at-large", order flow here www.island.com is transparent. Yes there's even a Palm version to view Island's book: http://www.island.com/BookViewer/palmversion.htm
  • I only have DateBook4 and AvantGo on my Palm III. I had a few more things but it kept locking up awhile back so only want to keep things to a minimum.
  • Porn for the Palm, does the irony strike any one else?
  • Oops, forgot to mention Chess Genius. Finally, a chess game even I can beat. Poor chess players everywhere, unite.
  • My two favorite palm apps are both games, Hardball and Kyle's Quest. Games are a really good way to pass the time on the train on your way to werk. I also really like Big Clock. Hehe

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