Re: [NTLK] NaPalm: it's for real.

From: William B Davis Jr (billd_at_ecity.net)
Date: Thu Oct 31 2002 - 01:25:07 EST


On Wednesday, October 30, 2002, at 09:44 AM, Filmer, Paul E. wrote:

>
> Perhaps this is not possible because of the core PalmOS, but wouldn't it
> be
> nice to have a Palm emulator with a decent screen size to work with? i.e.
> give it the Newton advantage?
>
> Paul F.

There are numerous PalmOS machines with different size screens than the
"standard" 160x160 of most Palm-branded unit. Units from other vendors
are different sizes. Palm only just released their first NON 160x160 unit
this week (the Tungsten units).

But many (all?) of the Sony PalmOS machines are 320x320, as is the new
Palm Tungsten unit or units (at least once is, not sure if both are)

My HandEra PalmOS unit is 320x240. My old Palm IIIx was 160x160. (Talk
about your noticeable improvements!)

I think some of the PalmOS based phones are not 160x160 either; at least
once I've seen is kind of skinny and long.

Most are grayscale or color except maybe the very first ones.

I think that, however, each vendor had to modify the "standard" built-in
apps for their screen size, although at least in HandEra's case they
provided some APIs to check for their specific features, etc, so your
software could be written to support the larger screen sizes or other
features (my Handera has a jog dial and an extra button and an alarm light
that regular Palms didn't have, plus a "virtual" Graffiti area that could
be collapsed, plus built-in CF and SD/MMC slots; I've got a WiFi card for
mine). I don't think there is/was an "official" API for getting screen
size until PalmOS 5 (just released) or maybe 4. Not sure.

If NaPalm is made smart enough to support the features of the various
machines ROMs, you could do a great deal with the Newton's screen real
estate!

  - Bill

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