Handspring Visor Delux ROM image

ROM image for Handspring Visor Deluxe. This can be useful when developing application for the Visor using the POSE emulator.

Little nuggets of information for Handspring Visor Deluxe Green

I recently got a Handspring Visor Deluxe (Green) from a friend. This device is quite old for todays standard but should be a very good tool for exploring embedded and PDA programming. Anyway, here is what I got: Manufacturer : Handspring (now Palmone) Model : Visor Deluxe (Green) Memory : 8 MB Serial number : ABCEB02000488 Processor : Motorola 16 MHz Dragonball EZ processor OS : Palm OS 3.1H Related websites: Official website : http://www.palm.com/us/support/visor/visordeluxe/ OS Upgrades : http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/visor/hs_updater_v100.html Synchronizing data with Linux : http://www.linux.com/howtos/Handspring-Visor/index.shtml History of Handspring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handspring Developing applications: Pocket Smalltalk : http://www.pocketsmalltalk.com/ Micro Java for Palm : http://pluggedin.palm.com/regac/pluggedin/Java.jsp Palm Developer Network : http://www.palm.com/us/developers/ Visual PalmTalk : http://www.visualpalmtalk.com/ ucLinux on Palm : http://palm-linux.sourceforge.net/ C on Palm : http://onboardc.sourceforge.net/ C on Palm : http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/OnBoardC/ Rapid GUI for OnBoardC here Quartus Forth (non-free) : http://quartus.net/ picoBASIC® Integer : http://www.picodoc.com/pb.html Rexx for Palm OS® : http://www.jaxo.com/rexx/index.html Python for Palm : http://pippy.sourceforge.net/ Plua - Lua for Palm : http://netpage.em.com.br/mmand/plua.htm Small Basic (runs onboard) : http://smallbasic.sourceforge.net/ TinyLogo : http://www.wideopenwest.com/~lipetz/TinyLogo/TinyLogo.htm Waba - programming language for small devices : http://www.wabasoft.com/ Superwaba : http://www.superwaba.com.br/en/default.asp Palm Pascal Compiler for PalmOS (runs onboard) Description: PP is a freeware standard Pascal compiler for PalmOS that runs directly on the handheld. PP generates true native 68000 and ARM executable code from standard Pascal source code. Console applications, standard Palm applications, shared libraries, DA's, armlets may be generated on board in the train, while waiting the bus, while fishing, on the beach, or wherever you are. PalmOS: 3.5 or later Website: http://www.ppcompiler.org/?lng=en Scheme for PalmOS (runs onboard) Description: LispMe is a Scheme compiler and runtime system running on the Pilot PDA. It is mainly intended to have a tool for quickly trying ideas and algorithms, but you can write dialog-based applications, too. PalmOS: 3.0 or later Website: http://www.lispme.de/index.html

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

• 8 MB RAM stores thousands of addresses, appointments, to-do items, memos, and more
• Fully compatible with thousands of Palm OS applications
• Supports optional expansion modules for MP3 player, pager, modem, GPS, video games, and more
• Important note: If you are running Windows 95/NT or using a non-USB Macintosh, you must order the Serial HotSync Cradle separately
• What's in the box: Visor Deluxe, HotSync cradle, stylus, snap cover, leather slip case, Palm Desktop software, two AAA batteries

Technical Details

• Standard memory: 8 MB version in 5 fun colors
• Maximum memory: 16 MB (with Springboard 8 MB flash memory module)
• Expansion Slot: Springboard module
• Display type: 2-bit grayscale LCD, monochrome
• Display colors: 4 shades of gray
• Display size: 2.375 by 2.375 inches
• Resolution: 160 x 160 pixels
• Display backlight: Yes
• Processor: Motorola 16 MHz Dragonball EZ processor
• Operating system: Palm OS 3.1H
• PC compatible: Yes
• Mac compatible: Yes
• PC system requirements: 486 MHz processor or higher; Windows 98 or 2000 with USB port, or Windows 95 or NT with serial port (serial cradle sold separately); CD-ROM drive
• Mac system requirements: Apple Macintosh or compatible computer with PowerPC processor; Mac OS System 8.1 or later with USB port, or Mac OS System 8.0 or earlier with serial port (serial cradle sold separately); CD-ROM drive
• Handwriting recognition: Graffiti
• Keyboard: Onscreen keyboard
• User controls: Power on/off, backlight control, up/down scroll buttons, calendar, address book, to do list, memo pad buttons
• Memo pad: Yes, also includes Date Book Plus, Advanced Calculator and City Time
• Address book: Yes, also includes Date Book Plus, Advanced Calculator and City Time
• Scheduler: Yes, also includes Date Book Plus, Advanced Calculator and City Time
• E-mail: Yes, for Windows. Macintosh solutions sold separately.
• Web browser: Third-party solutions available.
• Security: Password-protect entries
• Stereo: Third-party solutions available.
• Built-in speaker: Yes, includes both a built-in speaker and microphone.
• Headset jack: Third-party solutions available.
• Voice recorder: Third-party solutions available.
• MP3 playback: Third-party solutions available.
• Audible content playback: Third-party solutions available.
• AC adapter included: N/A
• Battery type: 2 AAA
• Batteries included: Yes
• Average battery life: Approximately 2 months
• Desktop import/export formats: Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express/Exchange, Qualcomm Eudora, Lotus cc: Mail. Links to AOL, Lotus Notes, Netscape Communicator, and POP3 mail sold separately. MS Word, Excel, Project solutions sold separately.
• Serial port: Yes, but serial cradle sold separately
• USB: Yes, USB cradle included in package
• Infrared: Yes
• Wireless: Yes, sold separately
• Docking cradle: USB cradle included. serial cradle sold separately.
• PC cable: USB cable sold separately.
• Other hardware: Leather case included. Springboard expansion slot expands with modules like a digital camera, music player, modem, and more.
• Software: Compatible with thousands of software applications.
• What's in the box: Visor Deluxe, HotSync cradle, stylus, snap cover, leather slip case, Palm Desktop software (Windows and Mac), software link to Microsoft Outlook (Windows only), two AAA batteries
• Width: 4.8 inches
• Height: 3 inches
• Depth: 0.7 inches
• Weight: 5.4 ounces

Configure gaim to talk to MSN

This is a very network specific, like how the corporate network is being setup. But if you are like me where we have a network connection with no proxy but I think with a firewall, below is the settings: Login server : messenger.hotmail.com port : 1863 Use HTTP Method : checked Show custom smileys : checked Propx Options Proty type: No Proxy

Remotely connect to your home machine using remote desktop

This link shows how to configure your Windows XP Pro machine to allow remotely connecting to the machine via terminal services.

Common Linux commands

List hard drives:

:$ su
:# sfdisk -s

List partition tables:

:$ su
:# sfdisk -l

Remove a default gateway:

#: sudo route del default

Add default gateway, this will add 192.168.1.101 as the default gateway:

#: sudo route add default gw 192.168.1.101

Find Windows machine in the network (needs smbfs).

$: findsmb

Get the details of the machine in the network (needs smbfs):

$: nbmlookup 

~ts

xlib: connection to "unix:1012.0" refused by server - workaround

I was trying to open an X application (actually a GTK+ application) and got the error below :

Xlib: connection to "unix:1012.0" refused by server
Xlib: No protocol specified


(scite:8344): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

I think the reason why I am getting this error is that I changed user in terminal from regular account to root. I've read in the net that user can use xhost + but it is not working for nxserver+nxclient. But there is a very easy workaround for this if sudo is installed and enabled.

#: sudo scite

This will open the scite text editor in an elevated account (root user).

Logitech QuickCam VC USB driver for Windows XP

We bought a webcam in yard sale, it is a Logitech QuickCam VC model LKD5 part number 1049-640-001. As we all know, most items bought in yard sale does not come with a driver. A quick visit to Logitech shows that they don't provide a driver for Windows XP for this device. Here comes google. After few minutes of surfing I finally found a driver that works for this hardware. Get it from here. If you need to get the driver from the original publisher visit here. Note: don't install any software from Logitech as it may interfere with the functionality of the driver. Just use Yahoo Messenger or MSN Messenger. You should be all set.

Enabling Cleartype font for Windows XP

I wish I had seen this website long time ago... MS Windows have this really useful utility to increase the readability of fonts specially on LCD monitors. Please go check the following website :

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/Step1.aspx

You need to use Internet Explorer to make this work.

2008/07/21 Update
This also applies to Vista. I just upgraded one of my laptops and it was quite hard to read screen display both on the laptop and when docked with default settings. Tuning did help quite a lot.

Running Macintosh inside your USB

I have come across this post today and it seems interesting. It allows you to run Macintosh upto 7.5. There is a sample image here. I had difficulty following the instruction from minivmac site due to .sim.bin file that I can't manipulate in Windows. Even Stuffit Expander does not really help when running in Windows.