Inspiration on the Palm

I earlier noted that the almost forgotten application, Inspiration, has a version for Palm, PocketPC, Mac Classic, OS X, and Windows. I think that's some kind of record.

I tried the $30 Inspiration/Palm version (free 1 month trial -- pretty good!), and I synchronized it with the desktop on Windows. The synchronization is a bit awkward, but not too bad. There's a menu item in Inspiration that lets you open the PalmOS Data file (.ihf). Then you save it to your desktop data folder (.isf). If you'd like you can export it back to the Palm (save as .isf). I had to read the manual to figure out how to get started; it's not very intuitive but really the PalmOS doesn't make this easy [1].

On Windows the PalmOS data files are saved in a rather unusual spot. Depending on how you browse to it you see two different paths, so I assume it's some virtual directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Inspiration Handhelds\jfaughnan
or
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents\Inspiration Handhelds\jfaughnan

I'd never messed with this "shared documents" folder before, but it's evidently there for a reason.

So making the sync work takes some discipline. It's not like 'Desktop To Go' that theoretically keeps the desktop Word document and the Palm document automatically synchronized. I'd prefer something that didn't require thought, but given the limitations of Windows this is probably as good as one can do. (I didn't try this on my Mac because I still sync my CLIE to the PC - my wife tend to hog the Mac.)

Inspiration/Palm works surprisingly well on the CLIE's relatively high res screen. The images are crisp and I can get quite a bit on there. The Outliner is very simple to use. I like the graphical view better than I'd expected.

Inspiration doesn't have the glitzy output of MindManager (though I'm not sure MM does much more than Inspiration), and it's not nearly as powerful an Outliner as OmniOutliner, but this mega-cross-platform stuff is pretty interesting. I hope they are able to make the jump to Intel, but frankly the app is very speedy and would probably run ok with Rosetta. I'm going to be using it for a while and I expect I'll buy the Palm version.

[1] The Palm software was built for Windows 95, it was never redone to adjust to NT/2K/XP's multi-user model. This causes no end of problems, including making this sort of thing hard to do.

Universal binary bloat

[Update 2/1/06: TrimTheFat is now a popular "Stripper" for removing Intel binaries. It's in early beta. I'll likely test it on my iLife 06 install.]

The latest version of Lemke Software's GraphicConverter has gone universal. The size difference between a universal and PowerPC installation is rather impressive:

• 48MB universal binary (installed)
• 14MB PowerPC (installed)

I'd expected doubling at most, but almost tripling? Of course in an era where a single photo may be 8MB, an extra 34MB is not not that big a deal. Interestingly the downloads aren't that different -- something must compress rather well.

I expect we'll see some 'strippers' out soon to get rid of the unwanted Intel code. All very familiar for old codgers who remember going from 68K code to PPC/68K combos.

Wikipedia iPod Hacks

Nice collection of iPod hacks on Wikipedia - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Today, Make Blog points out a great collection of iPod hacks on Wikipedia. The hacks are divided into GUI hacks, software hacks, eBooks and games, OS, hardware and peripheral hacks.

Inspiration: Palm, PocketPC, Mac, Windows

Inspiration 7.6 may be in a class of one. This relatively obscure (educational market) outliner/mindmapping/visualization software runs on OS X, Mac Classic, Windows (any version), PalmOS, and PocketPC. The Palm and PocketPC versions include conduits. File formats are the same on Mac and PC. The Mac version used to be able to read MORE 3.1 files (Omni Outliner does that better now.)

Only FileMaker 7 had comparable coverage (the Palm and Pocket PC versions of FM 8 are mysteriously delayed.).

I've used Inspiration occasionally over the years, but I'm going to try it again on my Palm. (Note the CD ships both Mac and Windows versions, and, for better or worse, they use the same key.)

Sigma 55-200mm F4 for Digital Rebel XT

Story likes these DR XT lenses:

The Digital Story: Sigma 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC Lens Perfect Complement for Canon Rebel

One of the best deals in the world of lenses is the Canon 18-55mm lens that's available in a kit with the Digital Rebel XT (350D)..... Sigma has designed what I consider to be the perfect complement to this lens. Their 55-200mm DC Zoom...

You can buy the Sigma 55-200mm on Amazon for $125, and that includes a lens hood. The only other lens that I would include in my "basic on-the-go DSLR kit" would be the Canon 50mm f-1.8 optic...

Many reviewers dislike Canon's stock zoom. I have it and the 50mm. Now I'm thinking I want the 55-200. Sigma also sells a 35mm f1.4 $300 higher end lens that would be sweet. I might be done for a while after those two ...

In fact I'd favor the Sigma 35mm over the Canon 50mm, except the Canon is only about $75 -- very cheap. Still, one could make the case that the base Canon zoom, the Sigma zoom and the Sigma 35 f1.4 are a great kit for the cheap amateur.

Cheap Speaker Wire connectors

The Digital Story: Speaker Wire Salvation

I think this is the 8th posting I've had on Story's web site. Amazing. He's much better here than on his old O'Reilly site.

Story's favorite photo gifts

I want these.

The Digital Story: "12 Photo Gadgets for Gifts" - Podcast #9