Today's Explorer Profile comes from Sheri S who has been a long time Palm user and has quite an interesting collection of devices. And she's also got a nice collection of apps that keeps here busy and entertained. Check out her profile below.
Explorer Profile: Sheri S
I've been a long time palm user since my first Palm IIIx, then Handera, T5, Treo 650 and now have Treo 755p. Love the ability to carry around my contacts, calendar, a few books, some music and games - one device for organization & phone. Favorite apps include HanDBase, Laridian MyBible, Astraware Sudoku, AvantGo and Bapsoft Joggle.
Thanks very much for sharing your story with us, Sheri.
For her effort, she has 5 entries for the Valentine's Day Giveaway of Prima Cases Metrocase (contest ends Feb 29th). The product review is here. If you're interested in winning the beautiful case, check out the contest details here. Again, the explorer profile is not limited to Palm devices. You can discuss other platform devices as well.
Thanks for visiting and supporting Palm Discovery.net. If you are not reading this article from Palmdiscovery.net or palmdiscovery.netfirms.com, the website you are reading it from is guilty of copying and posting my content without consent. Please visit Palm Discovery.net for the original source of the material.
Del.icio.us categories: archives categories palm windows-mobile misc editorial connectioncentral palmexplorer explorer-profile
Posted by webmaster as palm, misc, ConnectionCentral, explorerprofile, windows-mobile at 11:49 AM EST
Please Leave a comment »
A BIG THANKS to Sammy of Palm Addicts for mentioning Palm Discovery.net again recently and also another BIG THANKS to Sherman of SmartBoxDesign (developer for Farkle, Word Pop!) for mentioning us too!
Here's an interesting Palm Explorer Profile that doesn't fit in the normal Q&A format but one I think is a really great story. With permission from French (member at Brighthand), I am posting her story here. I hope you guys enjoy reading this one (and maybe spark some of you others in submitting your profile or story in a different manner). Hint. Hint. Please keep in mind that I had to do a bit of editing in order to fit it in since the quote was originally meant as a reply to a thread at Brighthand and also via a private message.
Palm Explorer Profile: French
I am someone who loves technology. Somehow I heard about the TX and did some research and it sounded cool. And because I embrace technology, keeping it "standard" was not an option. I believe I got REALLY excited after finding Maceyr's palm blogs. Her excitement was so apparent and her blogs so helpful in making me realize the power.
So I went and bought a TX...having some ideas of what I would use it for but not quite sure whether, in the end, it would get dusty. I have always had a paper planner...since I started working. For me, that has been the most difficult transition and I STILL find myself going back and forth between the two. I'm almost there...I still have my paper planner but it stays at work full time now, and while I do pull it out of my desk drawer and put it on my desk, I haven't opened it in a couple of weeks now.
So what I ended up using mine for...it keeps my checkbook...and the beauty of that is that it keeps a running calculation so I know how much I actually HAVE...not just what I have spent. MOVIES!! I love pulling this baby out on a long flight and entertaining myself taking up virtually no room. I have no complaints at all about watching movies on it and I actually LOVE it.
I seem to find time to upload my pictures on my TX faster then I get prints, so I'm able to share my special trips, etc. with friends and family almost immediately.
Games. Keeps me entertained.
USB drive. I keep my budget spreadsheet on my TX and can access it from any computer when needed.
Recently I test drove a Treo 755P on Sprint's network. Coverage was an issue at my home and since I have no landline that is a deal breaker. However I used that Treo for 28 days and fell in love. The minute Verizon releases it I'll be buying it. Having data access whenever and wherever I need it is wonderful. I was at my friend's last weekend and she was having her mother and some of her friends over for crabs. The place she was in touch with told her she could pick them up at 2:30...so she called at 2:00 to make sure they would be ready and they told her...uh...4:30. She was panicked since everyone was on their way, expecting to eat at 2:30. So I calmy whipped out the Treo, fired up Google Maps, searched for "crabs" in her zip code and it came up with 5 places. I just as calmy selected the first (and subsequently the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th) calling and confirming availability...all while she was running in circles with her cell phone in her hand, phone book in another hand, and having a melt down. Once she realized I had already called 5 places, gotten availability and prices, she calmed down, we discussed which one, I called them back (still on the Treo) and we had crabs at 2:45.
Google maps saved the day on another occasion, too. Real Estate agent was showing our house and having issues getting into homes (lock box issues). He was also spinning in circles and panicked. So I fired up the Treo, did a search on Google Maps and was able to tell him 2 real estate offices within 2 miles of my home that he could go and get his pass key fixed at.
Anyway, I often embark on these little adventures not quite sure where I'll end up, but end up wondering how on earth I survived prior.
It was definitely [maceyr's] enthusiasm and excellent blog entries that made me see the potential. I loved reading them and [she] showed me so many things I could do that I never thought of, not to mention great tips/ideas on how to get from paper to palm. I probably never would have gotten as advanced as I have if it weren't for them. Combine that with the wealth of knowledge at here at Brighthand...and the sky is the limit. Even though [she has] thoroughly covered it, I miss the new stuff.
I actually returned the Sprint 755P as reception was an issue, and I am eagerly anticipating the release of the 755P on Verizon's network (right now rumors say September 4th). The wait is KILLING me. So I'm actually back to using my TX, but having the Treo for 28 days made me realize I would use my palm even more in the convergence device. Everything was just so much easier having the Treo. I mean EVERYTHING. I was keeping up with appointments better, and felt just overall more in touch. I guess because I was using one device for two things, it was constantly "in my face". Sometimes things slip by me on the TX. Casual day?? With the TX I was dressed and out the door on the way to work before I knew it (because I keep it in my purse downstairs in the kitchen). With the Treo, I knew casual day was TODAY, because it was at my bedside. And I never accidentally left it behind like I have my TX, because I NEED my cell phone. Who is gonna leave that behind?
So my TX is getting use now...but I'm chomping at the bit to retire it. I might consider handing it down to my step son except I gave him the Z22 that I outgrew in 10 minutes and I've yet to see him actually use it. I hate to have such a powerful device as the TX sit and gather dust. I would probably sell it on ebay. My husband is hopeless. I'm the technology wizard in our household (as [maceyr is in hers], I gather).
So I'm real excited and I've never felt this anxious about getting something new as I do the Verizon 755P. HURRY UP VERIZON. I want my full time data back!
Thanks very much for sharing this with us, French and for the lavish praises about Palm Discovery.net. I am speechless and a bit embarassed about the praises. I was considering on removing them but then thought it didn't seem right to do so, so I left it in. If it sounds too self-promoting, please excuse me.
That's an interesting idea about sharing my experience of migrating from the older non NVFS Palm device (Zire 71) to an NVFS Palm Treo 650. [Edit. I had omitted that part in the profile since it was a question directed to me that didn't fit in this profile.] I will have to consider writing about it.
Del.icio.us categories: archives, categories, palm, misc, editorial, connectioncentral, palmexplorer
Posted by webmaster as palm, misc, ConnectionCentral, explorerprofile at 9:29 AM EDT
Please Leave a comment »
First of all, again, a BIG THANKS to Sammy of Palm Addicts for mentioning Palm Discovery.net on the front page.
Today's Palm Explorer Profile comes from Michael. He was kind enough to share his Palm Explorer Profile just to help me out and his profile sounds pretty interesting. And it's always nice to know someone who has the same Palm as me
. (BTW, I still love my Zire 71 and it's still getting used).
Name: Michael [my last name stays private]
Alias on Brighthand: Strife89
Devices: Zire, Zire 71
Favorite Palm apps: DioPlayer, TCPMP, More Heap Hack, LJP, UniCMD, SilkDimmer (this list could go on......)
What you like about the Palm: It has many FREE apps available, it is relatively stable (for me, anyway), it is very user-friendly, it does everything I've ever wanted a mobile device to do (except surf the net 
), and it's great for showing off. 
What you dislike about the Palm: There are always newer models coming out, namely with newer features that I want, and more power (if only you could upgrade one like a PC.....). Virtually every one sold today has a "sealed in" battery, and means of charging are few compared to other popular devices (like iPods 
).
How the Palm has changed my life: Music, videos, tons of games, reading, file management: anywhere, anytime. Need I say more?
What I mainly use my Palm for: Music and games.
Thanks very much for sharing this with us, Michael.
Del.icio.us categories: archives, categories, palm, misc, editorial, connectioncentral, palmexplorer
Posted by webmaster as palm, misc, ConnectionCentral, explorerprofile at 5:50 PM EDT
Please Leave a comment »
Again, the usual BIG THANKS to Sammy of Palm Addicts and Alex of Treobits for the mention of Palm Discovery.net on their front page.
Happy Independence Day to all our US readers! I hope you guys have a good one and please do not drink and drive!
I know it's a few days late, but Happy Canada Day (July 1st) for fellow Canadians and others living elsewhere that celebrate Canada Day. I spent Canada Day volunteering for our local Chinese community association working at the food stand. A bit tiring but it looks like it was a success. It was surprisingly a pretty good day. The previous days were strange. Huge hails, blackouts due to lightning and thunderstorms off and on during the day. I felt like I was back in Hinton, Alberta for a while since we were getting good sunny weather one moment and then a hailstorm the next and then back to sunny, all within moments! I guess I kind of missed Hinton weather that way. Hinton was very nice because it was so close to Jasper and you really appreciate the mountains and scenery all around.
Today's Palm Explorer Profile comes from Corey R. Interesting forum name of MacGyver so I'm wondering if he's a real-life MacGyver. He's got quite an interesting story to tell about how his Palm TX has come to the rescue, or at least proved its usefulness. I am always surprised to find new uses of my Treo or Palm device. It just takes a bit of creative thinking (big emphasis on that) to get your Treo or Palm device to do something that you didn't think it was capable of doing before. And these are the types of special, personal stories that I love reading.
So, keep them coming, everyone! Again, each Palm Explorer Profile submitted will get you 5 entries in the drawing for the Proporta Alu-Leather and Advanced Screen Protector giveaway (instead of 1). The contest giveaway ends midnight Pacific Standard Time on July 15th.
Your name: Corey R
Your alias on Brighthand (or other forums): MacGyver
Your devices: Palm T|X
Your favourite Palm apps: Bible+, FuelLog, Filez
What you like/dislike about the Palm or your PDA device: I like how small it is, but I don't like how fragile it is, like dropping it onto the floor.
How the Palm or PDA device has changed your life (or how it helps you) in any way: It helps me have all my phone numbers and calendar wherever I go.
What do you mainly use your PDA for: Contacts, Calendar, To Do List, Games, web browsing
Etc. Anything else you wish to share: Last Christmas I was at a family gathering and my wife's aunt who doesn't even own a computer, had a digital camera with loads of pictures on it, some from a European vacation and some from other things. She usually formatted the card after getting the photos developed but forgot this time, and it would have taken a while to manually delete each picture that was no longer wanted. So I whip out my trusty T|X, pop in her SD Card, and used Filez to quickly flag and delete the pictures that had already been developed. There was no computer nearby so the T|X was a God-send!
Thank you very much for sharing this with us, Corey. Again, as I've mentioned already, that's what I love about having a Palm or PDA device because they are so handy at times when we think we're stuck. Did I mention that I enjoy reading these stories? Oh, I have? Oh well, I do love reading them though.
So, take a moment to provide your Explorer Profile and get a few extra chances to win some cool stuff and share with the rest of the Palm Discovery.net readers and Palm community a little bit about you and share your love with the Palm or PDA device.
Del.icio.us categories: archives, categories, palm, misc, editorial, connectioncentral, palmexplorer
Posted by webmaster as palm, misc, ConnectionCentral, explorerprofile at 6:10 PM EDT
Please Leave a comment »
As usual, BIG THANKS to Sammy of Palm Addicts for recently mentioning Palm Discovery.net on their front page.
Today's Palm Explorer Profile comes from John Kirkwood, aka
Fluffykins (interesting name) at mytreo.net. As you will have gathered, although it is in the typical Q&A format of the Palm Explorer Profile, it is anything
but typical.
I hope that you will find his profile entertaining and maybe spark something in yourself to come up with your own Palm Explorer Profile (and get an extra 4 entries in the current Palm Discovery Proporta Alu-Leather case & Advanced Screen Protector giveaway contest) (ends July 15th). Even if you don't want to enter or win in this giveaway (please state so in the submission), you can still be eligible for future giveaways (and get an extra 4 entries just like this one) simply by letting me know that you have previously submitted a Palm Explorer Profile. How much easier can it get? One Profile will get you 5 entries in future giveaways. You only need to let me know you have submitted one before (obviously provide your name or username or even a link to the profile) and you're in! Since not everyone will be entered, your chances of winning any of the giveaways is much greater than any other site (since mine is still such a small site and will likely remain so for a long time). I always look forward to receiving these profiles and I'm sure that other Palm Discovery readers do too! Won't you add in yours?
My name: That's John. John Kirkwood
Brighthand? I'm not a member, but what I can offer you is "Fluffykins" at mytreo.net
Your devices: Oh dear. I started with a Palm m500, which was fine until the super capacitor, which holds the memory up whilst one changes batteries, decided to fail. I was dead lucky and found a suitable replacement on a scrap VCR mainboard. (Resourceful or WHAT?)
That did fine, until I realised that carrying around two boxes - a Palm and a Phone - was a bit of a bind.
I found a good priced secondhand Treo 180g, which was pretty good. I really liked the flip front, as that meant it could sit in my pocket with no fear of getting the LCD trashed on car keys or wotnot. (But just wait)
Another thing I liked was that the Treo software did, quite simply, work. The 180 lasted a fair while, but eventually it bagan to get a bit tatty and quite honestly, I didn't like the graph (graffiti) input for everything more than number pad entry.
The crunch came when the wire to the speaker in the flip front broke.
I managed to fix that, but I figured the phone was on borrowed time.
I saw a cheap Treo 270 - Much the same, but with a keyboard and colour screen - and bought that.
Brilliant. I could actually type text messages with no bloody predictive text and without pressing a key fifteen million times to get to the character I wanted.
Again, the software, quite simply, worked. This was in stark contrast to the kids phones - Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola. ll these we struggeled with - and eventually gave up on.
Not the Treo.
We had a wonderful relationship, only brought to an end when the flip front snapped off.
I scanned the adverts on ebay, looking for a replacement and saw a Treo 600, together with a GPS antenna and a full set of Mapopolis navigation software, all for £70. Wha hey!
The thing paid for itself in the first few months, helping navigate me around on holiday Guernsey in the Channel Islands (Look it up). The Significant Other can't navigate for toffee, so the Treo AND software package was a Godsend.
Still the software worked.
All went well until mid June '07.
Because the 600 hasn't got the flip front, I carry it in my shirt pocket.
Unless the shirt I'm wearing hasn't got a pocket.
In that case, I reluctantly shove it in my trouser pocket.
I'd been really careful all day, because it was one of those physical weekends, putting my phone down on nearby tables, in the wife's bag, in the car, etc. You
get the picture.
Then, that evening, we got home. I put the phone in my pocket and, I swear, did no more than stand chatting for a couple of minutes.
I pulled the phone out of my trouser pocket, to put it on charge and saw a huge, irregular, jagged yellow blob on the screen.
Yes, the screen was trashed.
Oh Tempores, oh mores, oh bloody hell.
Well, I backed the phone up straight away. Guess what? The software worked.
I promised myself I'd get another 600. Nothing more. I didn't need it.
Yea, the 680 didn't have the ridiculous external antenna (If I ever find the marketing guru who decided an external aerial was a marketing necessity, I'll nail his bloody head to the floor), but I didn't really need that and anyway, it was still stupidly expensive for me.
Then I saw a 650.
Fully unlocked.
Bright, crisp display.
Bluetooth.
Keyboard.
Apps. Lots of apps.
I bought it.
It has a belt holster too.
I should have kept my cool.
But I'm a Treo nut. I can't help it.
Guess what? The software STILL works.
I just tried to get the software for my son's latest Sony Ericsson phone to recognise the phone properly.
It doesn't.
I want a 750.
Please?
Pretty please?
Your favourite Palm apps: OOOOooh, that's got to be Mapopolis for the Palm, closely followed by SolFree, solitaire sampler. I've wasted countless hours playing that. It's addictive.
And now it looks like the missus wants a Treo of her own, just so she's got that for herself.
What you like/dislike about the Palm or your PDA device: The biggest beef is no flip front model.
The second biggest beef is the camera still sucks compared to most modern phones. Mind you, you can have as many megapixels as you like but of the lens is crap (and most phone camera lenses are) you're still stuffed for decent pictures.
How the Palm or PDA device has changed your life (or how it helps you) in any way: I can actually send meaningful texts. I can have an address book that is a full address book.
It remmed home in the most forcible way possible that satnav is a GOOD IDEA. (Wished I'd got THAT a loooooong time ago)
What do you mainly use your PDA for: Fliping heck. EVERYTHING. Addresses, phone numbers, memos, Internet, Games, Navigation - oh, and occasionally phoning.
Etc. Anything else you wish to share: Did I say I want a 750?
"Treo Palm phones. What all mobile phones want to be when they grow up"
Thanks very much for sharing this with us, John. WOW! I am speechless. What an excellent Palm Explorer Profile! I expected the usual one or two word reply to the generic basic questions and what did I get? A very fascinating, humorous and entertaining story of one man's history of Palm devices. I did have to correct some spelling and add a few words here and there but the main format is what was presented. As you can see, even normally boring Q&A profiles can easily be transformed into a very entertaining story. It's quite obvious that John loves his Palm and also enjoys sharing his passion of the device as evidenced by his ahem, expression, of his Palm history. If I could base the Proporta Alu-Leather giveaway winner by the entry, this would be it! But since it is a random drawing, John or anyone has an equal chance of winning the Alu-Leather and Advanced Screen protector.
This profile offered me a good trip back memory lane. I remembered about the 180g but it didn't appeal to me personally because I wanted the QWERTY keypad and ended up getting a Zire 71 instead because of the camera. At one time I was seriously considering the 180 or even the colorful 270. But I wanted something with a camera and QWERTY pad but the Zire 71 was almost everything I wanted except for the QWERTY pad. The 650 is almost the perfect device (had it offered more RAM). I agree on the sub par camera but I use it for quick snap shots since I don't take a camera with me and it works. Quality isn't the best, but it's still much better than a lot of camera phones. Also, it's very nice to hear that you're converting family members into Palm users.
And, John? About the 600 and 650 not having a flip style? You can always get a hard case (which I have) that protects the screen and keypad. I got mine within minutes of getting my 650 and never worried about screen damage. And, John, regarding the 750? Get in line, because I want a 750 too. A few things that's somewhat holding me back right now is the mini-SD card, the omission of the reset hole and 240x240 resolution. Depending on what comes out between now and Christmas time, I may end up getting the 750 when I take another trip to Hong Kong. Hopefully by then, there may be something that will knock my socks off. Or I may get an HTC (they are very nice but I don't like their funny audio jacks) but I am leaning towards a Win Mobile device, well, that is, unless Palm comes up with something that I can't resist.
Obviously, I am persuading people to submit a Palm Explorer Profile (as you can see, they are very entertaining and I personally love reading them) so that they get an extra 4 entries in the drawing. But you can still get an entry in simply by commenting in the Alu-Leather contest posting here if you don't want to submit one (but now, why wouldn't you?) but still want to enter. Even simply providing a few word answers to the generic questions will get you those extra 4 entries and there's no requirement on what you must answer. Ask your own questions or make the profile unique and your own. The point of this profile is to just share your experience of the Palm or PDA device (it's not limited to the Palm ones) with others and help making the PDA community that much more special. And I just keep saying that this is such a GREAT community and my objective here at Palm Discovery is to share my love and enthusiasm and give back to the community. That's why I am happy that this is a small hobbyist site and will remain that way but still offering some interesting ideas, information and reviews with a more personal touch. As always, I THANK all Palm Discovery readers and supporters for your continued support, without which, I would not be able to continue writing and doing what I do here. THANKS!
Del.icio.us categories: archives, categories, palm, misc, editorial, connectioncentral, palmexplorer
Posted by webmaster as palm, misc, ConnectionCentral, explorerprofile at 10:42 AM EDT
Please Leave a comment »
