Jornada 520 Software?

[Oreocat]

We bought a friend a Jornada 520 for her birthday (thanks to your recommendations!) but I'm having a little trouble finding sites that carry software compatible with a Jornada 520, and am not quite sure what I should be looking for in terms of an OS program in the first place.

I've downloaded some Windows CE and SH3 programs, which I thought were the correct type of programs for the Jornada. A few have worked, but some haven't, by either not loading (although it seems like it will, it brings up the add/remove page, starts to check the ppc, and then just...stops) or by giving me a "not a valid Windows 32 application" error.

My friend really just needs/wants some simple games (cards/mahjongg) and a background program, if one exists for the 520. I'm not even sure that a background can be put on it, but there are a few religious tsk files she's seen that I'd like to install for her if I can.

If anyone can refer me to some sites that either carry software, or better yet, tell me what I should be looking for, I would really, really appreciate it :)

[rhmorrison]

You need SH3 PocketPC program. If it says ARM or XSCALE it won't work on your PDA! Two FREEWARE sites that I like are:
POCKETPC FREEWARES (http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php) FreewarePPC.com (http://www.freewareppc.com/)If you download a CAB file then it should be copied to your PDA and executed there. If it is an EXE then it is usally a Windows Installer that should be executed on your desktop/laptop to install the program to your PDA using ActiveSynch and your cradle (attached to your desktop/laptop) via (in your case) a COM port. Newer devices use USB.

Good Luck!

[Oreocat]

I knew about the SH3 files, just not sure if they're pretty much the same as Windows CE files or not :)

Thanks for the link to PocketPcFreewares though, I didn't know about them!

[Stephen Beesley]

I knew about the SH3 files, just not sure if they're pretty much the same as Windows CE files or not :)

Thanks for the link to PocketPcFreewares though, I didn't know about them!

Windows CE is a generic name for the Operating System software that Pocket PC 2000 (which is on the Jornada 52x/54x series) Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 are based on. In particular it is a term that was used a lot in the earlier days of the Handheld PC and Pocket PC. CAB files that will run on the SH£ will generally have a name including "SH3".

Another place you can look for freeware games is HERE (http://www.bypaul.com/PPCFS/Free-Games.htm)

Sometimes, parlicularly with smaller games the download might be just an .exe fole that is copied directley to the PPC rather than installed using an installer or CAB file. If you try to run these files on your PC you would get the "not a valid Windows 32 application" error.

[Oreocat]

Aha! I really appreciate the explanation of Windows CE, I was sure they were connected, but just didn't know how :)

I also appreciate the free link, I didn't have that one either!

Thanks for the help uMP2k & rhmorrison :)

With the information you both gave, it's starting to make more sense. Now I know why some of the games I downloaded and saved didn't load, and why some games didn't install.

I've got a couple of things to try now the next time we get together, so thank you both very much, this should hopefully help me (and her) out ^_^

[dlangton]

If you want to use themes ala PocketPC 2002, try http://www.pocketfacelift.com/

[Oreocat]

Interesting, this looks like it could work.

Thanks!

[dlangton]

A couple of other ideas. First of all, HP has an update for the backup applet for the 54x series. It upgrades HP Backup to version 1.1. You *may* already have this version, If not, you can download the update at ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/handheld_computers/software/hpbackup.zip .

There are a lot of free downloads for your device at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/pocketpc/default.mspx . Transcriber is always a good keyboard method to install. The easiest way to get the Macromedia flash player is at the Pocket Facelift site I linked to in my previous post. The direct link is at http://www.pocketfacelift.com/downloads/FlashPlayer4DR-SH3-Installer.exe , since macromedia no longer provides the software.

Other freeware sites are http://www.scottandmichelle.net/scott/cestuff.html , http://www.phm.lu/Products/PocketPC/ , http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Cupertino/2039/ (especially FontsOnStorage and FileDialogChanger), http://www.furrygoat.com/Software/index.html (the moonphase app), and http://www.tjotala.com/software/wince/default.htm (PimExtTools ).

For commercial software, start at http://www.handango.com .

[Sven Johannsen]

Be careful about 'dressing it up' to much. Most programs like Facelift and other UI enhancers are loaded into RAM all the time. I think you only have 16M to play with don't you? If you start to run short of RAM, consider dumping some of the window dressing.

[Oreocat]

dlangton-I did a backup, but I'm not sure what version her ppc has, so I'll check into it. And thank you very, very much for all the free download sites. She doesn't have the money to spend, so I'm trying to stick with free programs as much as possible.

Sven-You're right, it is only 16mb, but she did have a 64mb card that "arrived" with the ppc. I preloaded Launcher, and Wisbar, and those are the only two window dressings she has. I am keeping an eye on what she wants, and so far, it's just been bibles, games, and some books. (After I installed 3 bibles on her 520, her next request was "Mahjongg, mahjongg, mahjongg" :D ) Facelift is interesting, but she felt it was too expensive just so she could have the 2-3 backgrounds she liked, so it'll go in the maybe later list. Thanks for the warning though :)