Previously on comp.sys.palmtops.pilot, Harold Fuchs said:

> >> - No Java; Apple won't allow it
> >
> > Not a problem for me. I have never, ever, found an application on any
> > platform I've used written in Java that worked well or behaved right.
> > They've all been incredibly slow, over-large for their functions,
> > clunky to use, and didn't interact with their host environment well, if
> > at all.
>
> Java allows cross platform development to a much higher level than most
> other languages. Check out www.styletap.com for just one interesting

In no way does that even come close to addressing my stated problem
with Java.

> >> - No Flash; Apple won't allow it.
> >
> > What's it needed for? With no Flash, that also means none of those
> > annoying ads in Safari.
> True no ads but also no "lots of other things"

So far, I have not found any problem on my iPhone caused by a lack of
Flash.

> > I stopped using categories in my Palm launcher a year ago. There are
> > no categories for shortcuts on my desktop, either.
>
> On your desktop you can make folders of similar applications - games, share
> analysis programs, dictionaries, ...

Why would I want to create a folder on my desktop? I put shortcuts on
the Desktop for easy one-click access. Using folders defeats that
purpose, I may as well just use the Start menu.

> >> - WiFi not properly implemented - can't find an already paired but hidden
> >> network
> >
> > I haven't tried since I don't know of any hidden networks, but have you
> > tried using the "Other" entry? It's there specifically so you can
> > manually join a network that isn't listed. If someone is not
> > broadcasting the SSID, they're doing it for a reason.
>
> The idea is that once a network is known it is findable without it having to
> braodcast its SSID. Just like my WiFi notebook find my router; I have to
> supply the password but not the network details.

So even after using the Other entry to add the wireless details once,
it doesn't remember them for later?

> > Please explain what a '"serious' app' is.
> For years on my Palm I have been able to create, edit and read Word and
> Excel documents and to synchronise them freely between the Palm and my PC.
> This software "came in the box" with my Palm; yes I have upgraded it a
> couple of times over the years but the basic application came with the
> device.

Ah, Docs2Go. Yeah, I sort-of miss that. I didn't do much editing from
my Treo, but I do need to view some office docs. There are several
ways of getting that much, at least. The most basic is to email the
file to yourself and retrieve it with the iPhone/iTouch. There are a
few direct via WiFi apps in the App Store now, I use "Files".

> My Psion had a built-in database manager. I can get free DBMs for the Palm
> (ThinkDB for example) and any number of non-free DBMs. Can I
> create/edit/sync a database to my iTouch?

Ilium is working on bringing ListPro to the iPhone, complete with
syncing to ListPro on the desktop.

> Can't use the iTouch as a storage device.

Yes you can. See "Files", "DataCase", "FileMagnet", etc, in the App
Store.

> Offline maps with [homemade]overlays

jpgs?

> News Groups

Meh. IMO the device is too small for "serious" usenet use.

> The only way to make the iTouch useful is to "jailbreak" it. Apple's

I'm just waiting on ListPro before I can completely retire my Treo.

> >> - No way to put e-mails into folders unless the folders are already
> >> defined
> >> on Outlook/Mac
> >
> > I assume you're referring to an IMAP account. Why are you trying to
> > use the iPhone as your primary email client? Why don't you already
> > have your folders configured?
>
> Just my Googlemail account which I read with Thunderbird (no Sync to iTouch)
> or with a web browesr depending on where I am; again no Sync. Why do I have
> to depend on something like Outlook? Making folders isn't exactly hard. If I

You only need Outlook on the PC for your address book. There may be
other options, I haven't looked because I was already using Outlook for
my desktop PIM with my Treo. Make the IMAP folder with whatever mail
client you're using on the desktop and when you next check for mail
with the iPhone/iTouch it'll read the server and add the new folder to
your local setup. That's how IMAP works.

> could sync, Synchronisation is a two way street - what I create on the PC
> goes to the iTouch and what I create on the iTouch goes to the PC. Except I
> can't create anything on the iTouch. It's just shoddy thinking.

Not shoddy thinking, just a very basic client.

> >> - Cannot copy *individual* photos from iTunes; must "sync" and entire
> >> folder
> >
> > Or collections from Photoshop Elements or iPhoto.
>
> Sorry, I don't understand this comment.

If you use Photoshop Elements or iPhoto, you can use them to create
photo collections independent of what folder the photos are in and sync
those collections.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
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"Let me pass on to you the one thing I've learned about this place: No
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