Saturday, January 7, 2006
Adding "multitasking" to the Palm
One of the points that users of PocketPC used to demonstrate the superiority of Windows Mobile versus Palm OS is multitasking. The multitasking is to be able to have more than one program running at the same time, which entails the following advantages:
- Windows Mobile is designed to ensure that programs will not have to close, but remaining in the background. In fact, they usually do not have the X button to close them. Therefore, as we go usnado the PocketPC, we will we continue to accumulate open programs are not going to use more in a while, slowly consuming the limited RAM, and increasing the chances of suffering a crash.
- If we want to close one of the programs we have available, we will have to navigate your control panel to find the task manager. So, since he will be able to forcibly close the programs that we want, hoping that it is well suficuentemente scheduled to open all resources are closed properly. (HP, in view of the complexity of the operating system, has kindly include in its iPAQ a program that shows running applications directly with the push of a button, so we can make the task of exterminating an easier way)
- An operating system that supports multitasking, has an advantage over non-support, such as PalmOS, the need much more RAM and processor to run the same program at the same speed. Those who have had their day in games that came to version for MS-DOS and Windows95, you know.
In PalmOS, as there is not support multitasking, when changing from one program to another, the first is closed. But keeps its current state so that, when we come back to run it, will be at the same point where we left off. Therefore, the purpose of use, it will be as if it had been open all the time. Besides the programs that need to be constantly in the background, it may make perfect.
Switch5 allows us to quickly change program
However, since the Palm community has always been full of good programmers, has given back more than a nut, and there is an application called Switch5 Version for Palm OS 5 hack called SwitchHack. What makes this program is to enable us to return to the latest applications we've used, but in a quick and simple style that we like Palm. Switch5 is used in two ways:
- Moving the stylus from the start button (the house) to the menu button, switch automatically to the application which had opened earlier.
- By the stroke upside down, the menu button to the house, leave a list with the latest software used to choose which to change.
An example of why it is so useful: we are reading the news in Plucker, and found an interesting link, then we want to visit from the PC. Find the link, and make a diagonal line with the stylus, it opens the command bar, and click Copy. Now press the button tasks, and create a new diagonal line, paste. Perfect. Now we want to go back to Plucker and read the news. ¿Click on the house and then look for the icon and click Plucker? No. Just do a line between the house and the menu button. Plucker automatically revert to the point where we were reading. Cool huh?
Switch5 adds one more option in the Preferences menu, since that is where it is set. One can associate the program to a button on the Palm, add favorite applications to appear always on the menu, and so on. It is a very small program that does not consume resources, so our Palm is not slowed by having installed. I warn that seems silly, but once you've used, you can not come to understand that the Palm series without him.
By: Mark Gonzalez Troyes in Palm Analysis
RSS comments | 
Print this post
Related Articles
Subscribe to stay abreast of developments in this blog
This was one of my essential until the probe HiLauncher ....
Try it
So I will Leo
Anyway, what I like most about Switch5 is extreme simplicity. To my taste, the less there is to add to what brings the Palm factory, the better.
In TX if you hold down the roof of the house you see a row with the latest applications executed. I think the effect is the same as that of Switch5.
A greeting.
Thanks for the warning, Jesus, did not know.
Cool in Palm have come to realize how useful it is and have integrated series.
I use a T5 and has the same characteristics of the TX friend it mentions Jesus
Also in the LifeDrive has the characteristic that said jesus
I'm new at this in the palm, did not know who originally was not multitasking, I have a livedrive and I can not start the music pocket tunes and then start another program
Sunno, you're right, the Palm support multitasking so much reduced, allowing some applications run in the background. But what is left open any application and start another, like a PC, it is not possible.
say, this is not really multitasking, where this multitasking? All it does is create a menu for easier access to the latest applications executed. But when you run an inevitably another application closes.
One application that really adds to what one might call multitasking is Accessorizer
forgiveness ... I thought that this was the post in January 2007, I see now that it is 2006 ...