Singapore Public Holidays for Palm

This will be the permalink for all future updates.

I have created DBA files for use in Palm Desktop with the public holidays for every year. You will find DBA files for public holidays and school holidays (phXXXX.dba and shXXXX.dba respectively where XXXX denotes the calendar year for that file).

Public Holidays 2012 with School Holidays

Public Holidays 2011 with School Holidays

Public Holidays 2010 with School Holidays

Public Holidays 2009 with School Holidays

Public Holidays 2008 with School Holidays

Launch Palm Desktop and import the file into your Datebook/Calendar. Data obtained from www.sg and MOE website.

To keep updated on future updates, just visit here by year's end to see if the following year's files are added. If not then just leave a comment to remind me. :)

Ebooks on your java-enabled phone

Readmaniac is an ebook java midlet for java-enabled phones. It is extremely small in size (below 100kb) yet big in features supporting standard text files, Palm doc files (.pdb) and even zipped files among other popular portable formats. It comes default with some clear looking fonts of various sizes. It supports bookmarks, search and other powerful features that make this app a great addition to java phones instead of just having games.

ReadManiac - Electronic book reader for java-enabled phones

PDF on Palm Too

Following up our review of native PDF readers, there is now a good working PDF reader for Palm known as PalmPDF. Best of all its free and open source! PalmPDF is based on Xpdf and the latest version 0.5 is by far close to an ideal PDF reader even though its still in alpha test phase.

There are resolution settings that allow you to configure the best performance based on your Palm device's available memory resources. I have tested it on my Zodiac 2 in Black and White and Grey scale mode which are stable after running it on a few PDF of over 60 pages without problems. Dragging, scrolling, zooming the page is smooth though it tends to take a while when loading up subsequent pages. Landscape and Portrait modes work well. Colour mode tends to force a reset even though it shows sufficient heap memory available.

This is by far a very good PDF software and I expect it to improve and become a fine work like what TCPMP did for media.

PDF on Palm

You could say native support for PDF files is sorely lacking for Palm OS devices. You can certainly use great document viewers like Repligo to convert and view but that requires one extra step to reach your PDF content. There is however a way to get that feature back on your Palm.

Some time back when Sony was a Palm OS licensee with their Clie line, they provided a software called Picsel Browser that enables one to view native PDF including a few other document formats like Word. With Sony Clie no more in the picture and the company behind the Picsel Browser, Picsel Technologies, providing the software in specific devices, Palm users are left in the cold.

Now some Palm enthusiasts managed to extract that software and make it functional on other Palm OS devices. And couple with the aid of a software called CodeDiver, Picsel Browser can now be used in fullscreen mode. Here's a screen capture of my Zodiac with an opened PDF in fullscreen glory.

PS: Due to copyright issues, do not request for the files here. Remember, Google is your friend.

Controlling your desktop with Palm

I have been looking around for Palm software that can allow me to control the PC desktop via bluetooth using the Palm, somewhat like a remote controller. Many would recommend VNC like PalmVNC but the speed over BT is terrible. A WIFI connection and a fast processor is highly recommended since it literally projects your PC screen on your Palm. Falling short of these requirements will result in a less than desirable experience. There has to be a better remote control softaare.

Recently Salling Clicker, which has been available for the Mac, released its Windows version. You can use PDA devices like Palm or WM and even certain models of mobile phones. It includes three controls for iTunes, Windows Media Player and PowerPoint within the standard install which work very well. Also included are mouse control and a few system controls like shutdown and volume mute. Its possible to extend it to work on other applications but some level of Jscript or Vbscript is required so most consumers will just have to wait for more scripts to be released to support their favourite software. At the price tag of US$23.95 its too pricey for its limited control support. But its simplicity and usability is excellent for no fuss operation.

Finally we come to a good free Palm software that can literally do what your mouse and keyboard can by using the Palm. Pebbles Remote Commander transmits to the PC the movements and taps of the stylus and characters entered into the PDA. It includes access to a full map QWERTY keyboard which include access to keys like key modifiers (Ctrl, Alt, Shift) and the directional control keys.

Overall I would use both Salling Clicker and Remote Commander depending on the PC software I wish to control.