Last revised $Date: 2009/07/07 03:37:18 $ - $Revision: 1.31 $
Introduction
This great Palm devices come with a pretty complete, mature and excellent
soft ware package.
Also remember the 312 MHz, 23 MB RAM and 2 GB SD-storage of your Treo 650 is
what you had 12 years ago on a desktop PC.
The big issue is the Linux connectivity which became worse an worse over the time as
Linux distribution getting more and more complicated. As matter of
fact I did not find one instruction in the Internet on how to connect it to
Linux via a cradle. Here is How!
How to Connect Your Treo to Linux
Load Kernel Modules
I am using kernel version:
cat /proc/version
Linux version 2.6.18.2-34-bigsmp ...
Visor and usbserial are responsible for the connection of the Treo and other
Palm devices via the usb-serial interface:
Plug in the USB cable to the Palm device and the Linux box
Press the Hotsync button on the cradle
With dmesg you wll see the following messages
...
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: new device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=5
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: Product: Palm Handheld
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: Manufacturer: PalmOne, Inc.
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: SerialNumber: PalmSN12345678
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: visor 4-1:1.0: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter detected
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB0
Mar 6 21:10:10 kalahari kernel: usb 4-1: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB1
...
The devices are not created this is just a dummy message.
Setup devices
Times when you created devices with mknod are long gone.
Today we use udev file system to create devices for hotplugging on the fly.
The rules for creating devices are stored under /etc/udev/rules.d
Files are scanned in then alphabetic order
The first rule that matches it used (short circuit)
I uncomment ttyUSB rules in '''50-udev-default.rules''' and created '''42-treo-ahaack.rules'''
All the tokes with == are compared. If they match the devices metioned with name
(ttyUSB1) is created /dev. So we get /dev/ttyUSB1 when ever we proess the hostsync
button. Other action are not ineresting for us.
You can figure out if that works for you by connecting the palm and press the hotsync button,
Run
udevinfo -a -p /sys/class/tty/ttyUSB1
looking at device '/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.3/usb5/5-1/5-1:1.0/ttyUSB1/ttyUSB1':
KERNEL=="ttyUSB1"
SUBSYSTEM=="tty"
DRIVER==""
ATTR{dev}=="188:1"
...
Connection to the Treo and Troubleshooting
Aways press teh hotsync button on your cradle FIRST before issuing a
pilot link command. It will say "connected" on your host where you
issued the pilot-link command and play a chime on the Palm device.
Not pressing the hotsync botton FIRST the command will just stuck.
Now lets test connect to our Treo.
I'm user pilot kit version:
pilot-xfer --version
...
pilot-link version 0.12.1
...
1)
pilot-xfer -p usb: -l
Unable to bind to port: /dev/ttyUSB0
In this case we have not set up devices properly, We need to fix the udev setup
2)
pilot-xfer -p usb: -l
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1
Good - it accepts the port - but this still hangs. But this is still serial line and although speed setting do no matter on USB serial flow control does.
3)
So I went to the Treo 650
Started the hotsync
Went to the menu Connection Setup->Cradle, pressed Edit then Detail
You can set any speed as it does not matter but you must set flow control ON
This apparently worked out:
pilot-xfer -p usb: -l
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Reading list of databases in RAM...
Blazer Bookmarks
CurrentCarrier
CarrierProfiles2
DefaultHelperDB
ContactsDB-PAdd
CalendarDB-PDat
MemosDB-PMem
PhoneCallDB
AddressCitiesDB
AddressCompaniesDB
AddressCountriesDB
...
Unsaved Preferences
HsSysResource68K
Net Prefs
System Ring Tones
MIDI Ring Tones
System MIDI Sounds
Saved Preferences
AddressStatesDB
AddressTitlesDB
List complete. 90 files found.
Thank you for using pilot-link.
MODE sets the permissions and GROUP the group so a regular user can access the device if added to the group.
#usermod -G uucp mruser
#grep uucp /etc/group
uucp:x:14:mruser
Yes we are there!
Palm Linux Conectivity
J-Pilot a Counterpart to your PalmPilot
J-Pilot is you counterpart to the Palm device and can sync nicely
J-Pilot 0.99.9
Is the counterpart to your PalmPilot and since it implements all the standard
organizer function as well as full synchronization of these four databases.
You therefore need to set the hotsync name and id as well.
After some serious build trouble it is working.
implements to full counterpart to the PalmPilot's organizer functions
can read/edit/save database files in PDB-format (working!!)
can actually sync your databases (working!!)
can export or import csv, xml, ldfi
can purge
can list status
can print
progressive search
Location of databases:
~/.jpilot
To synchronize J-Pilot with your Palm device do:
Set a userid File->Install User
Then press the sync button to synchronize
List Files On the Palm
Press the Hotsync button on your Treo first
pilot-xfer -p usb: -l
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Reading list of databases in RAM...
.
.
.
'VendorsDB'
List done.
Backup and Restore
Backup is performed by plainly copying of all files in a PalmPilot to a directory
pilot-xfer -p usb: -b xxx
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Creating directory 'xxx'...
[+][1 ][BLZ5] Backing up 'Blazer Bookmarks', 514 bytes, 0 KiB...
[+][2 ][GSM!] Backing up 'CurrentCarrier', 164 bytes, 0 KiB...
[+][3 ][CCLb] Backing up 'CarrierProfiles2', 35347 bytes, 35 KiB...
[+][4 ][HsDH] Backing up 'DefaultHelperDB', 144 bytes, 35 KiB...
[+][5 ][PAdd] Backing up 'ContactsDB-PAdd', 25007 bytes, 59 KiB...
...
[+][77 ][addr] Backing up 'AddressTitlesDB', 80 bytes, 568 KiB...
RAM backup complete. 77 files backed up, 0 skipped, 0 files failed.
Thank you for using pilot-link.
To restore
pilot-xfer -p usb: -r xxxx
Install Files and Programs
Install any file or program on the PalmPilot is easy and simple - you just copy files
thats it!
pilot-xfer -p /dev/ttyUSB1 -i bigclock.prc
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Installing 'bigclock.prc' ... (64330 bytes) 63 KiB total.
Thank you for using pilot-link.
Everything on a Palm Treo is stored on these files. Even all telephone
releated data like call-lists, SMS ...
Therefore you can move all you data to a new Palm Treo device by
backup and restore, including call lists.
Retrieving Files
Retrieving File from the Palm.
pilot-xfer -f 'JollyRogerDB'
Waiting for connection on /dev/pilot (press the HotSync button now)...
Connected
Fetching 'JollyRogerDB.pdb'... OK
Fetch done.
Check Or Set Users Hotsync Id
The hotsync id is often used for registration key by applications.
You can check it on the Palm device. When you start Hotsync application it shows in the right top corner.
THe hotsync id can not be set from the Treo.
you need to set it on the host
To check it do
pilot-install-user -p /dev/ttyUSB1
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Palm user:
UserID: 0
This is a virgin treo with no hot sync id set.
To set it do:
pilot-install-user -p /dev/ttyUSB1 -u tux -i 4711
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Installed User Name: tux
Installed User ID: 4711
Inspecting Database Files
pilot-file
H --header Dump the header of the database(s)
a --appinfo Dump app_info segment of the database(s)
s --sortinfo Dump sort_info block of database(s)
l, --list List all records in the database(s)
r, --record Dump a record by index ('code0') or uid ('1234')
R, --dump-rec Same as above but also dump records to files
d, --dump Dump all data and all records, very verbose
D, --dump-res Same as above but also dump resources to files
You delete files and also safely deinstall applications by removing them.
This can be done from the PalmPilot's main Menu or with pilot-xfer
pilot-xfer -p usb: --delete bigclock.prc
Listening for incoming connection on /dev/ttyUSB1... connected!
Deleting 'bigclock.prc'... Failed, unable to delete database
Delete complete.
Thank you for using pilot-link.
Apparently the this does not work well!!!
Palm Treo 650 Tasks
How To Perform A Soft Reset On Your Palm Treo 650
A soft reset restarts your Treo 650. No data suppose to be lost with from executing
a soft reset.
A soft reset can be performed by simply removing the back cover and letting the battery lose contact for a moment. If this fails to reset your Treo 650, you can poke a paper clip into the reset hole found under the battery.
How To Backup Your SMS
The SMS are stored on your Palm Treo in the "Messages Database.pdb"
you can get it by making a full backup of copiing the file:
pilot-xfer -p usb: -f "Messages Database"
ls -l Messages\ Database.pdb
-rw-r--r-- 1 ahaack users 69K May 29 20:47 Messages Database.pdb
Currenly I have no way of viewing it on Linux
Disk structure on the SD-Memory
The camera and the build in media image viewer well use the standard dcim image directory
for storing and viewing. You can create directories beneath dcim and put photos
in there. These are scanned and can be selected from the menu as albums.
Your favorite mp3 go under rn_audio. This is a flat directory.
Palm Treo 650 Applications
Now a days Palm devices come with a pretty complete and excellent soft ware package.
So there is little need to add new. Some of the old and free applications are still very
useful. However most have not been updated the last decade ;-).
Remember the 312 MHz, 23 MB RAM and 2 GB SD-storage of your Treo 650 is what you had 12 years ago on a desktop PC.
Document viewing with build in Blazer Web Browser
I is not any more acceptable that one has to convert documents to an proprietary
format in order to carry them around. Just copy you Web documents tree on the SD-card
and use Blazer to view them.
You use the standard file url file://tux/doc.hmtl to browse it
were tux is a directory at the root of the card.
Version: 0.9
Licence: Build In
Rating: (5)
Requires: n/a
Documents To Go
YOu can write reports and Spread sheets on your palm and store it on the
SD-card in Interanl Document to Go Format (fast) or MS-Foramt (Compatible).
You also can read PDF-foramted documents.
Version: 8.002
Licence: Build In
Rating: (5)
Requires: n/a
The challange is the installation:
Swiss Train Schedule Palm Application
HAFAS Palm software lets you consult train schedules directly on your Palm PDA.
Fill in From(Von), To (Nach), Date and time frame and Format Palm
Click on Create (Erstellen)
Click on the link and down load the plan (*.pdb e.g. ZurichBern.pdb)
Install the database
pilot-xfer -p usb: -i . ZurichBern.pdb
Datebook 6
Adding a cool weekly and biweekly view, a powerful list and day view which combines
calendar and Todo items and finally the year and month view. Has floating
and 'done' events, user icons and handles timezones.
Installing Timezones and Icons
To install timezones and and icons unpack the datebook3.zip archive and do
the following for each of the files timezone.txt and Bitmapsd.txt:
run dos2unix against the file (e.g. dos2unix timezone.txt)
do install-memo /dev/pilot (e.g. install-memo timezone.txt)
open the memo on the PalmPilot and remove the first line with the filename on.
alternative installation:
open the file in an editor and select the contents
open jpilot and create a new memo
paste the marks text into the created memo
save it with 'apply changes' button
synchronize with PalmPilot using the jpilot sync button
Abacus Spreadsheet
A almost full featured spreadsheet application including functions, which is handy
to use. Past and copy not implemented.
Your top-secret passwords and keys you always better keep exclusively in your head.
But for the rest of your ever increasing number of passwords, pins,
serial numbers you can use this utility.
You always have to clear your password manually, even when switch off or leave
the application. Otherwise everybody has access to it.
It used the Tiny Encryption Algorithm using a 128 bit key.
Later version then 1.1 of the top secret fix this and other things but are shareware.
Version: 2.0.6
License: 1.1 is Freeware later version are shareware
Ever logged onto a Unix host from you telephone to do some
emergency work. Its really possible with one of these shells.
Both are working ssh 2 clients. While TuSSH has public key authentication
it is rather unstable and causes crashes. Pssh has more eye candy like a
mini keyborad with all the Unix special characters one need to work with. It
has the more readable font too.
It is still great application. However this has never been updated,
so is still monochrome. An things like panning do not work with the
touch screen. You have to set up keys for that. The 300 MHz processor
of the Treo 650 really makes a difference compared to the 20 MHz of the Palm V.
It draws a map with the outline of borders and land,
labels the 194 countries, 2861 cities, 62 lakes and oceans, 229 islands and
draws a topographical grid. It can graphically zoom, pan, measure and label cities.
You can find countries, cities, by name. It also is a great pastime to
use the quiz mode witch allows you to configure to guess countries, cities, lakes,
oceans, capitals, islands and also limit you game to a certain continent.
Palm has identified that the Treo 680 device can experience reduced battery life when the camera is used. The camera may continue to draw power from the battery when the device is in standby mode. A Treo 680 Camera Update is now available to address this.
-- Check if your Treo is affected
-- Download and install the Fix
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