Apples Releases Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.5. Update

When I returned home this evening I found that Apple has rolled out the next maintenance release to Mac OS X Leopard, 10.5.5. The update is available now via the Apple Software Update control panel, which can be found in the Mac OS X System Preferences area. (System Preferences can be quickly accessed from the grey gears icon in the Dock menu along the bottom of the Finder desktop.

According to the Apple knowledge base, the Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.5 update "is recommended for Mac OS X Leopard versions 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3 and 10.5.4. It includes general operating system improvements that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac."

For more details about what the update fixes, please refer to the Apple website.

Normally I don't post notes about desktop operating system updates on Foleo Fanatics. This update, however, I though was worth mentioning here as it does relate to my fellow Palm OS users. In Apple's update documentation in the General section, the following line caught my attention:

"Fixes an issue in which contacts might not sync properly with PalmOS-based devices."

At this time, I am unaware of what issue this update addresses specifically. If you read the Macintosh forum over on the Palm Help Forums, Brighthand, or other sites, the Mac boards are full of Mac and Palm customers who can't get their Palm OS devices to sync with their Macintosh.

Regardless, I'm glad to see that Palm and Apple are still working together to ensure that there is some interoperability between their devices.

Handango Secret Sale

Handango is quietly running a "secret sale" between now and the end of the day on August 26, 2008 at 11:59pm.

Use coupon code "SECRET20" while checking out at the Handango.com online store to receive a discount on your order. Handango sells mobile software for platforms like Palm OS, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and even Symbian OS, Linux, and Sony's PSP.

You can start shopping here...

Insaniquarium Deluxe by Astraware and PopCap Games

Astraware(R) and PopCap Games, Inc. are excited to announce the release of one of PopCap's flagship titles for Palm OS(R) and Windows Mobile(R) smartphones. Insaniquarium DeluxeTM offers hours of frantic aquarium fun as you feed your fish, watch them grow and protect them from alien invaders!

Insaniquarium Deluxe is the craziest aquarium game ever - tend to your fish and keep them happy and they'll reward you with precious coins and jewels. Use the money you earn to buy upgrades for your tank or egg parts which hatch lots of different in-tank pets with special powers. These pets can help you feed your fish, collect coins, or even protect against the aliens that will invade your tank and wreak havoc. You can also use the money you earn to buy better weapons to see the aliens off quicker!

Insaniquarium Deluxe includes 3 fun ways to play:

• Adventure - keep your fish healthy and protect them from aliens through 4 fun aquarium stages each with multiple levels of mayhem;

• Time Trial - feed your fish and fight off the alien invaders to make as much money as possible against the clock. A new time trial is unlocked as you complete each stage in Adventure

• Challenge - once you've mastered Adventure, face the ultimate challenge as you feed your fish and try to protect them from ever increasing alien attacks. The challenge ends when the last fish is zapped!

Insaniquarium Deluxe is available for Palm OS(R) 5 smartphones and PDAs with at least a 320x320 screen, and for smartphones and PDAs running Windows Mobile(R) 2003 and later. For more information, to try and to buy, visit http://www.astraware.com/insaniquariumdlx.

Resco Launches IDGuard for Palm OS Smartphones

Resco IDGuard is a brand new Windows solution for protecting sensitive data of any kind - passwords, documents, images etc. The application provides a complete workflow for secure documents and can synchronize effortlessly with the Palm OS® platform.

Resco, the leading provider of end-user mobile applications and developer tools for the .NET platform, proudly announces the release of the Resco IDGuard - a new security solution for the Windows platform.



Resco IDGuard was initially implemented for the Palm OS® mobile platform, the Windows release can automatically synchronize its data onto a handheld device running IDGuard for Palm OS via HotSync.


Resco IDGuard can be used as a classic password manager with a very general data structure:
Records (PINs, logins, accounts...) can have notes, reminders and attachments and can be structured into the tree of any complexity.

Unique feature - Document Safe
Nowadays, every software house has a password manager. But Resco IDGuard does much more:
it be used to store business documents or private data of any kind.

Moreover, IDGuard offers complete secure work flow for the common document types, so that the users can safely preview or edit sensitive documents. Secure handling is provided for MS Office documents, PDF, common image types and media files.

In case of "unsupported" file types, IDGuard provides semi-automatic mode, where the document is opened in its editor and IDGuard reminds the user to close it manually when done editing.

About Resco IDGuard
The Windows version is compatible with Windows 2000/XP/Vista, the PDA version requires Palm OS® 5.0+. Both version use the industrial standard in encryption technology to provide the maximum level of security - the AES encryption which is considered safe even by the US government.

A free 14-day trial can be found at http://www.resco.net/palm/idguard/. IDGuard costs $19.95 USD and covers the license for both the Windows and PDA versions. The application is provided in the English language, Palm OS® German version is distributed via pdassi.de.

All Resco products are available for immediate download from www.resco.net.

Astraware Hot Summer Summer Sale!

Summer's here and it's time for some fun! Whether you're on vacation, or just want something new to play, Astraware(R) has the solution - the Astraware Hot Summer Sale!

Starting on 1st August, Astraware is offering 25 games each with at least 25% off the regular price. Several of the games are as low as $9.95 each!

If you're looking for action games like Platypus or GTS World Racing, strategy titles like Westward or Tradewinds 2, word games like Bubble Babble, or favorite classics like Astraware Sudoku - they're all included with special prices for a limited time! The Hot Summer Sale only lasts until midnight on 17th August, so make sure you don't miss out.

For all the details and to bag yourself a bargain, visit the Hot Summer Sale page at: http://www.astraware.com/promo/summer08.

Rumor: Treo 700wx Windows Mobile 6.0 Upgrade

Later this summer, it would appear that Palm is planning on releasing some ROM upgrades for their devices.

Of particular note is the Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional for the Verizon Treo 700wx. Note that this is not a Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional upgrade and it will not be made available for the Verizon Treo 700w. (The Treo 700w has 32MB of RAM versus the 64MB on the Treo 700wx.) Palm is also reportedly working on two minor upgrades for the Sprint Centro and Treo 755p for Verizon that will likely be released later this year.

According to the latest rumor, the Windows Mobile 6.0 update for the Treo 700wx is be no different than the already released update for the AT&T Treo 750. Also like the Windows Mobile 6.0 update for the Treo 750, there are some important things to consider before applying the upgrade:

• You can not revert back to Windows Mobile 5.0
• The update will be available for free from the Palm website
• The upgrade can only be downloaded once. You are advised to burn the installer to a CD before applying the upgrade
• Any Treo 700wx sent in for repair service will automatically be upgraded
• The upgrade can be installed either from the desktop computer or by running the upgrade directly off of a SD card
  

I honestly never expected this update to be released for the Treo 700wx. I'm glad to see that Palm will be releasing the update. A lot of Treo 700wx customers have been asking for it.

[Thanks to Ain't No Snitch for the tip.]

Pocket Tunes 4.0.6 Update

I just received and email from NormSoft alerting me that the PocketTunes 4.0.6 upgrade has been released. The 4.0.6 update includes one enhancement and several bug fixes for the 4.x code base.

This is a free upgrade for customers who have purchased PocketTunes 4 or for LifeDrive, TX, Treo 680, Treo 700p, Treo 755p, and Centro customers who have PocketTunes bundled on their devices. Customers who purchased PocketTunes 3.x qualify for special upgrade pricing.

A complete list of PocketTunes 4.x features and fixes is available on the NormSoft website.

You can download the desktop updater or install the update directly on your Internet connected device with the Help > Check for Updates command in PocketTunes. The PocketTunes 4 user guide is also available online.

Alex Pruss Freeware Software Archive

When the "new" PocketGear.com went online recently, I discovered that I was unable to find NVBackup in the catalog of software. I figured that I was doing something wrong and started poking around the PocketGear site thinking that I was looking in the wrong place.

The PocketGear.com Developer Guide shed some light as to what was going on. The following are excerpts from that document.

"Affiliate relationships associated with PalmGear, however, have ended with the exception of the existing Palm.com partnership. Motricity will cease support for the existing PalmGear platform and infrastructure. As a result, the classic PalmGear site will redirect in the near future to the unified new PocketGear. This move to the new platform and site will limit our ability to support existing affiliate locations. We are preparing to launch a new affiliate program in the near future, and look forward to presenting our partners with new opportunities for distribution and sales."

This includes the software store that was being hosted for ACCESS, formerly known as PalmSource. Jim Della, ACCESS Software Store Manager, writes on the ACCESS website:

"The ACCESS Software Store will officially close on November 27th. We thank you for your patronage.

You will still be able to review and purchase Garnet OS (formerly Palm OS) applications at www.pocketgear.com, an exciting new online store launched by Motricity, the ACCESS partner formerly hosting the ACCESS Software Store."

The Palm online software store is still very much running and open for business.

My problem is with the following passage from the PocketGear Developer Guide:

"We have taken careful steps to ensure that the new PocketGear is populated to the fullest extent and reflective of our prior catalogs at the 'legacy' sites. While we have eliminated much of the outdated and freeware listings, actively selling current titles have been migrated to the new PocketGear. Please note that listings at the new PocketGear have been assigned new product ID's as well as new urls."

Way back when I first got started in the Palm user community, great sites like PalmGear helped me learn about my new Palm IIIx, but introduced me to a world of great commercial, shareware, and freeware applications for my device.

The elimination of freeware from the new PocketGear and the shuttering of PalmGear is clearly a business decision that Motricity is free to make, but I don't have to like it.

That said, I have decided to do something about this situation. I have obtained permission from Alexander Pruss, who is a well known and respected Palm OS application developer, to host his freeware applications here on FoleoFanatics. Over the coming weeks I will grow the catalog of software that is available for download.

It is this spirit of community that really is one of the best rewards of being a member of the Palm user community.

Enjoy!

Alan Grassia
Editor, FoleoFanatics

Visit the Software by Alex Pruss archive...

Treo 680 Launch Getting Closer?

It looks like Palm is getting ready to launch the new Treo 680 on Cingular Wireless in the very near future. This photo was taken by Charles Gonz who happened to be at a Cingular retail store while boxes of the new Treos where being delivered.

This is good news for Cingular customers who have been waiting all year for a new Treo to replace the Treo 650. It is also good news for Palm as their current financial quarter closes at the end of the month.