.KEYWORD pplte0301
.FLYINGHEAD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
.TITLE Sci-fi thoughts, movie criticism, and HotSync fix feedback
.DEPT
.SUMMARY In this month’s Letters to the Editor, one reader believes sci-fi writers of the past were pretty accurate in their technological predictions, another reader takes issue with a recent article’s point-of-view, and two readers respond to the HotSync fix offered by Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz in last month’s PalmPower.
.EDNOTE In this month’s Letters to the Editor, one reader believes sci-fi writers of the past were pretty accurate in their technological predictions, another reader takes issue with a recent article’s point-of-view, and two readers respond to the HotSync fix offered by Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz in last month’s PalmPower.
.H1 The final frontier
The following letter was written in response to the article, "I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that" in the January issue of PalmPower at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200101/ppeditorial0101001.html.
After reading your analysis of the technological accomplishments of the last century, I had to take a minute to point out that perhaps we have lived up to more of those cultural expectations than you might think. 2001: A Space Odyssey took place aboard a space station; well, guess what? We have a space station in orbit, and it’s 2001! And while the HAL2000 may not be a reality, artificial intelligence looms large on the horizon. We have operating systems and applications that "learn" how we prefer to use our hardware and software and essentially rewrite themselves.
But more to the point, Mr. Roddenberry, in his Star Trek series, seems to have come closer to our present day technology than any other science fiction writer has. Witness the proliferation of the cell phone, for instance. The original cell phones were "flip phones" which looked much like the original Star Trek "communicators." As the series progressed, so did the look of the communicator. Today’s cell phones are mostly digital and have miniaturized to become amazingly small and portable.
Remember the "data pads" used by all and sundry aboard the starship Enterprise? Tricorders? Data chips? Medical monitors? Touch-pad controls? Now take a look around your own home and office. Notice any similarities in the likes of your Palm device, laptop, Clik! disks (now called PocketZip), CAT scan machines, patient monitors? My microwave and stove both sport touch-pad controls. And what about the heads-up display used in fighter jets?
And before you consign "big science" to the dust, take a look at the many technological advances that came out of the ongoing space shuttle program. Many things originally developed for NASA and the space program have led to technology that has been incorporated into our everyday lives. Including, perhaps, ways to feed many of those starving people.
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No, I do not think those writers of the 60’s were so far wrong after all. They were, and continue to be, the prophets of our technological future. Personally, I hope I live to be a hundred or more, because I can’t wait to see what’s coming up in the next 50 or so years!
V. Ewart
Hunt & Associates
http://www.huntlaw.com
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.H1 Palm movie critic
The following letter was written in response to the article "Getting the most out of movies on your Palm device" in the February issue of PalmPower at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200102/tealmovie001.html.
I’m having a little bit of trouble understanding the point of distributing the article "Getting the most out of movies on your Palm device" except that it was purely an advertising ploy. The article was written by the developer of TealMovie, so of course his viewpoint will be a little biased. Nowhere in his article does he state that movies played back on a Palm device are choppy (at 10fps), grainy, and hard to see. He makes it sound like watching movies on the Palm device is almost perfect if you create the movies correctly. I find that hard to believe. Also, he specifically says "Musical soundtracks work well on the Palm device, and there are many sources for music suitable for this purpose."
Somebody should tell him that Palm devices do not have sound playback capability! I guess if you purchase an add-on speaker, but how many people have those?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a Palm Vx, and I love it. It does everything I need it to do. But don’t try to tell me that playing movies (with sound) is a viable option at this time. If Mr. Lee wants to sell his beloved TealMovie software, he should do it with conventional ads and not try to sneak it by in a how-to article.
Thank you for your time,
Bob Pfeiffer
.H2 Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz responds
Bob, interesting letter. Actually, Palm devices do have sound… otherwise you could never hear an alarm. As for why we asked Vince to write about his product, it’s a practice we do from time to time with interesting products. We like to have the person who’s been the closest to the product share with us some insights on a new technology, product, or idea. Frankly, the article got started because I asked Vince why anyone would care about movies on a Palm device. His answer was so interesting, I thought it would make the basis for a great article, and it did. However, when we do run an article by someone with a vested interest, we do an introduction like that in this article, so you know to look for the jewels of wisdom but understand the perspective of the author.
To be honest, I don’t want movies on my Palm device, but I think you need to cut Vince Lee some slack in your letter. He’s built something pretty darn incredible and deserves to have that innovation showcased.
.H2 Bob Pfeiffer responds to the response
Thanks for the reply, David.
You’re right on all counts. I only reacted the way I did because I feel I was misled. When I read the title of the article, I made the erroneous assumption that the article would help me play movies on my Palm device. Having tried other movie players, I was always disappointed with the quality and the fact that there was no sound. (Yes, I know there is sound in my Palm device, but no speaker to allow for audio playback.) I was hoping to garner some info that would magically allow me to see decent quality video playback at 10fps on my small grayscale screen. All the article told me is that there is a new application that plays movies on the Palm OS (agreed, maybe a very good application).
And I still have a problem with his statement about playing back audio on the Palm device. He made it sound like it was a standard thing, and it is not. If TealMovie will play back quality audio on my PalmVx without my buying any extra hardware, I’ll buy it tomorrow, but I doubt very much that this is the case.
Again, thanks for the quick response,
Bob Pfeiffer
.H1 Thanks for the fix
The following two letters were written in response to the article, "How to use Palm Desktop v4.0 with your Handspring Visor" in the February issue of PalmPower at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200102/visordesktop001.html.
Just read the new issue. I have both a Handspring and a Palm IIIxe, and your fix to get the Handspring working with the new desktop worked great!!!
Thanks!
Lou Solomon
Technical Manager
Intercounty Clearance Corp
.H1 Violated by pirates
Perhaps I’m misinterpreting something, but it seems that your "tip" is encouraging owners of Visors to violate the licensing terms set forth by Palm, Inc. Have you read the license that accompanies the downloading of the above software?
Your method may work, but I believe what you are offering here seems to be nothing more than an opportunity for software piracy.
Is Handspring making other arrangements for their customers?
Dave McLaughlin
.H2 Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz responds
Actually, I hadn’t read the license agreement. Those things make me crazy. My first experience installing the Palm Desktop was when I pulled it off our server to test it, and it overwrote my Handspring Visor’s HotSync Manager.
But I think you’re going way overboard thinking that downloading the Palm Desktop for use with a Handspring device is encouraging software piracy. First, we’re providing a critical fix for a possible problem. Second, you can’t really use the Handspring device without the Palm Desktop (and that’s how it’s designed). Third, the product is available for public download. And fourth, if you happen to want to get license-happy, the license says, "The Software is licensed to be used on any personal computer and/or any Palm, Inc. product, provided that the Software is used only in connection with Palm, Inc. products."
Handspring users are running the Palm OS, which is certainly a Palm, Inc. product, and therefore it’s certainly used in connection with Palm, Inc. products.
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You did have an interesting approach, though.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For the article, "I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that" in the January issue of PalmPower, visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200101/ppeditorial0101001.html.
For the article, "Getting the most out of movies on your Palm device" in the February issue of PalmPower, visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200102/tealmovie001.html.
For the article, "How to use Palm Desktop v4.0 with your Handspring Visor" in the February issue of PalmPower, visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200102/visordesktop001.html.
For more information about Palm computers, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
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.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee6f151
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