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

$C:\Documents and Settings\Matthew\My Documents\My Pictures\screenshot.bmp$

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 1: Download

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.

stephenniall says: Feb 15, 2010. 11:56 AM

Im gonna get a old palm and do this and mount it in my computers front panel

RetroTechno says: Oct 7, 2009. 8:23 AM

I may actually charge the batteries on my old Palm to try this out! :-)

The Insomniac says: Sep 5, 2008. 1:02 PM

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?

mattbeddow (author) in reply to The InsomniacSep 5, 2008. 4:42 PM

No it runs inside the palm os like every other program, once your done just click home and unplug your device, no lasting effects, easy to delete and takes up little memory :) you will however need to restart the hotsync manager on your pc once your done to sync normally again but that is easy enough.

The Insomniac in reply to mattbeddowSep 9, 2008. 3:15 PM

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?

mattbeddow (author) in reply to The InsomniacSep 10, 2008. 6:24 AM

im sorry to hear that just to check, you did first disable the hotsync, ran the program on the pc, then connect the palm, the start the soft on the palm?

The Insomniac in reply to mattbeddowSep 10, 2008. 8:39 PM

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.

highvoltagefun in reply to The InsomniacDec 19, 2008. 5:50 AM

I have a sony clie, and it is working fine, except for not being able to use the fullscreen. (help!).

highvoltagefun in reply to highvoltagefunDec 19, 2008. 5:52 AM

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?

highvoltagefun in reply to highvoltagefunDec 19, 2008. 5:53 AM

UPDATE: No, it doesn't work. :(

highvoltagefun in reply to highvoltagefunDec 19, 2008. 5:55 AM

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!

highvoltagefun in reply to highvoltagefunDec 19, 2008. 5:57 AM

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.

arthaha says: Jun 21, 2007. 4:04 PM

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?

mattbeddow (author) in reply to arthahaJul 1, 2007. 12:14 PM

There is a way to do it and it looks similar to the picture on the top right. Im afraid that it doesnt work with lcdsmartie but it may work with the linux based programs. ill have to try and ill get back to you.

highvoltagefun in reply to mattbeddowDec 19, 2008. 5:49 AM

do i have to use linux to get fullscreen? :(

highvoltagefun says: Dec 19, 2008. 5:48 AM

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?

teknoman says: Sep 17, 2008. 4:18 PM

does anyone know some software to do this same thing but with a Windows Mobile PDA?

Redgerr says: Jul 16, 2008. 1:34 PM

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

Redgerr in reply to RedgerrJul 16, 2008. 5:16 PM

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 :)

dz0004455 says: Dec 8, 2007. 6:19 PM

this isn't workng for me...o well

mattbeddow (author) in reply to dz0004455Dec 9, 2007. 4:09 AM

Have you made sure that a) the drivers ar installed for your device and b) that hotsync has been closed and the process is nolonger displayed in taskmanager?

dz0004455 in reply to mattbeddowDec 9, 2007. 7:21 AM

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

mattbeddow (author) in reply to dz0004455Dec 9, 2007. 8:12 AM

Sorry i dont know much about linux so i cant realy help

dz0004455 in reply to mattbeddowDec 9, 2007. 12:02 PM

thanks for trying