.KEYWORD hack
.FLYINGHEAD POWER USER POWER
.TITLE Hacks and the enterprise
.DEPT
.SUMMARY This month, Contributing Editor Michael Connick begins a new series about how software hacks for the Palm OS can be of great value to enterprise handheld computing. In this article, he’ll get you off on the right foot by introducing you to hacks and hack managers.
.AUTHOR Michael Connick
This is the first article in a series on using hacks to extend the power of your Palm handheld in the enterprise. This article will introduce you to the concept of the hack and discuss hack management software. Subsequent articles will cover three hacks that I use on my Palm handheld: LapTopHack, MegaWiki, and MacroPlay. Any or all of these can be used to greatly increase the power and usability of your Palm handheld as an enterprise tool.
.H1 What in the world is a hack?
A hack is a special type of program that extends the capability of the Palm OS. Although sounding somewhat sinister due to its closeness to the term "hacker," hacks are simply operating system extensions that can give your Palm handheld new and powerful capabilities.
Rather than referring to a hacker, the term hack refers to a clever and non-traditional programming approach. The hack is really quite similar to the extension of the Macintosh OS, and it serves the same function. You can think of it as a simple plug-in to the Palm OS that gives it new capabilities.
.H1 Who came up with the idea of hacks?
An MIT student by the name of Edward Keyes created a technique for taking advantage of the fact that the Palm OS invokes certain of its functions through an indirect trap table. Instead of directly calling these functions from the operating system code, they’re invoked through a trap table containing the address of each of the functions. Edward discovered that by replacing a trap table address with an address pointing to code he wrote, he could have his own code executed before the operating system function was performed. He called these special programs, which replace trap table addresses and execute custom routines, "hacks".
He also discovered that he needed a special manager program to control the setup and execution of hacks. This he called HackMaster, which was the first hack manager program.
.H1 What can hacks do?
In general, hacks do two things. They improve upon existing operating system functions, and/or they provide new functionality.
For example, the three hacks that I use on my Palm handheld utilize this ability to extend the device’s operating system in the following ways.
.H2 LapTopHack
LapTopHack (at http://home.columbus.rr.com/nevai/palm/) allows you to make fuller use of a keyboard with your Palm handheld. If you currently use a keyboard with your Palm handheld, you’ll have undoubtedly experienced some frustration with the fact that you regularly need to remove your hands from the keyboard and use your stylus to perform many Palm OS operations. The LapTopHack provides keyboard commands for most of these stylus operations and thereby makes your keyboard much more effective and easier to use.
.H2 MegaWicki
MegaWicki allows you to create Web-like links between Palm OS documents so that you can jump from one to another by just tapping on a link.
.H2 MacroPlay
MacroPlay (at http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=29076) is a macro package for Palm handhelds. It allows you to automate operations you frequently perform and to start them with a single tap on your screen.
.H1 How can I use hacks?
In order to use hacks on your Palm handheld, you’ll first need a hack manager. Below are three of the most commonly used hack managers.
.H2 HackMaster
The granddaddy of all hack managers, HackMaster (at http://www.daggerware.com/hackmstr.htm) allows you to enable and disable hacks, as well as enter each hack’s control panel, allowing you to configure each according to your needs. It will also automatically prompt you to re-enable them all if your Palm handheld undergoes a "reset" condition.
.H2 TealMaster
Compared with HackMaster, TealMaster (at http://www.tealpoint.com/softmstr.htm) offers enhanced stability, system compatibility, exclusive configuration, and diagnostic and activation features. Unique features include hack priorities, anti-delete protection, timed automatic activation after reset, and multiple activation profiles. Advanced features include system analysis tools and automatic activation and deactivation of hacks when switching applications.
.H2 X-Master
X-Master (the hack manager that I use available at http://linkesoft.com/english/xmaster) offers support for switching "sets" of active extensions and a few other more technical features. I’ve found it to be a very solid and completely reliable hack manager, even though it’s freeware.
.H1 Are hacks reliable?
They are no less reliable than any other third-party software that you might install on your Palm handheld. If they’re well written, they won’t cause problems. Again, this goes for any program you many install on your Palm handheld, not just hacks.
.H1 Do I need to run hacks?
First of all, the majority of Palm handheld owners don’t use any third-party programs on their devices. However, there are well over 300 hack programs available today. Some of them may offer functionality you find valuable. Some can also be quite complicated to use. It really comes down to personal preference. I’ve personally found the three hacks I run on my Palm handheld to be invaluable.
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.H1 Conclusion
Hacks can provide Palm handhelds with completely new capabilities. They do so by extending the functionality of the core Palm operating system. In order to use them, you’ll need to first install a hack Manager on your handheld. Doing so opens your device up to completely new possibilities. Upcoming articles will discuss some hacks available for your Palm handheld and just what advantages they can provide to you as an enterprise Palm handheld user.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on LapTopHack, visit http://home.columbus.rr.com/nevai/palm/.
For more information on MacroPlay, visit http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=29076.
For more information on HackMaster, visit http://www.daggerware.com/hackmstr.htm.
For more information on TealMaster, visit http://www.tealpoint.com/softmstr.htm.
For more information on X-Master, visit http://linkesoft.com/english/xmaster.
For more information on Palm handhelds, visit http://www.palm.com.
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