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Palm Os device to work as a LCD status display. (now with pictures!)

Palm Os device to work as a LCD status display. (now with pictures!)
This article is all about how to use your palm OS device to emulate a LCD status display for your computer! You can display system stats (such as: CPU load graphs, CPU temperatures, free disk space), news alerts, stock indexes, WinAmp graphs, etc.

(sorry for the lack of pictures at the moment, ill add them later)
 
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Step 1Download

First off, PalmOrb works by pretending to be (or emulating) a real LCD; a Matrix Orbital LK204-25 LCD. So you can use existing software that expects a Matrix Orbital display! Here are a few LCD driving programs:

Linux: LCDproc - free. [LCDproc v0.4.5 has a number of minor bugs; see FAQ.]
Linux: LCD4Linux - free.
Windows: LCD smartie - free. v5.4 is the latest, beta versions are available.
Windows: LCDC - shareware but it's very good.

You will also need to download PalmOrb from here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/palmorb/

You will also need to make sure that your palm can sinc with your pc as this is needed in the intallation process.
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25 comments
Feb 15, 2010. 11:56 AMstephenniall says:
Im gonna get a old palm and do this and mount it in my computers front panel
Oct 7, 2009. 8:23 AMRetroTechno says:
I may actually charge the batteries on my old Palm to try this out!  :-)
Sep 5, 2008. 1:02 PMThe Insomniac says:
I like this, especially since i just got a used CLie off of craigslist. My question is, will the installation of this prevent overwrite the normal Palm OS and prevent it from being used as it would normally when it is undocked?
Sep 9, 2008. 3:15 PMThe Insomniac says:
AGH!!! I installed it according to the instructions, it did a fatal exception error message, and then started flashing the PalmPowered logo on the screen, and i couldn't get it to do anything. I even tried resetting it. I ended up having to erase everything on the palm by holding down the power button and then hitting the up button. Any way I could have prevented this?
Sep 10, 2008. 8:39 PMThe Insomniac says:
yup. Luckily, I had just closed hotsync after copying all my stuff to my comp from the palm, so i still have the dates and notes and stuff. I guess that PAlMORB and LCDSmartie dont work very well in conjunction with my Clie, even when configured according to your instructions. I'll try it out later, I may get it to work with a few tweaks.
Dec 19, 2008. 5:50 AMhighvoltagefun says:
I have a sony clie, and it is working fine, except for not being able to use the fullscreen. (help!).
Dec 19, 2008. 5:52 AMhighvoltagefun says:
Heyyy!

If you right click on the hotsync manager, and select network, and then run LcdSmartie, it will work! does this mean that you could use this AND hotsync at the same time? LcdSmartie = USB Hotsync = Network?
Dec 19, 2008. 5:53 AMhighvoltagefun says:
UPDATE: No, it doesn't work. :(
Dec 19, 2008. 5:55 AMhighvoltagefun says:
Wait! Thats because i had the local usb checked AND the network! Otherwise, if you tell lcd smartie that hotsync isn't running, then it should work!
Dec 19, 2008. 5:57 AMhighvoltagefun says:
To Trick LCD Smartie into thinking that hotsync isn't running, find the hotsync.exe file and change it into hotsync.bat it will work the same, but lcd smartie will work because on the check to see whether HOTSYNC.EXE is running. it will come back false.
Jun 21, 2007. 4:04 PMarthaha says:
wow, nice! i didn't know you could do this. I pulled out my old Sony Clie and set it up! Very NICE! i like~! is there anyway to get a large display area though?
Dec 19, 2008. 5:49 AMhighvoltagefun says:
do i have to use linux to get fullscreen? :(
Dec 19, 2008. 5:48 AMhighvoltagefun says:
I tried this, and it works very well with Folding@Home, Winamp and SETI@Home, but the screen size is very small, like in the first picture with the keyboard. how do you get it to the fullscreen one? with the winamp FAVU meter?
Sep 17, 2008. 4:18 PMteknoman says:
does anyone know some software to do this same thing but with a Windows Mobile PDA?
Jul 16, 2008. 1:34 PMRedgerr says:
i might try with my old palm-- thanks! :) ill get back and tell ya if it works, i dont know if i still have all the programs needed to even sync the device lol :D
Jul 16, 2008. 5:16 PMRedgerr says:
just downloaded the software-- hopefully it will work and the battery is not totally fried... probably is though.... yep ill report back when i have it finished... or failed :)
Dec 8, 2007. 6:19 PMdz0004455 says:
this isn't workng for me...o well
Dec 9, 2007. 7:21 AMdz0004455 says:
im using linux.... and i'm still having alot of trouble with hotsync to... i'll tell you guys if i get it working tho
Dec 9, 2007. 12:02 PMdz0004455 says:
thanks for trying
Jul 3, 2007. 9:50 PMCaffeineHouse says:
Yeah, i'd also like to find out how to use a "full screen" mode, as the default allotted screen is really small.

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