Don't Trash Your Old Peripherals

The Bridge is an adapter that allows one Palm model to use peripherals designed for another. The Universal Bridge is a new version that allow models with the Universal Connector to use V or III series peripherals. This helps solve one one the most frequent complaints from handheld users,that they have to replace replace all their old peripherals whenever they upgrade. The Bridge costs $30 and is available now in limited quantities.

There are actually several different versions of the Bridge, depending on which handheld is to be connected to which peripherals. There are two versions of the Universal Bridge, one for V series peripherals and one for III series. Both work with all models that have the Universal Connector.

The Universal Connector appears on the Palm m500 series and the m125. Palm has promised to use the Universal Connector for at least the next couple of years on all its models.

There are currently only versions of the Bridge for Palm-branded handhelds. However, a company spokesperson said that they are looking into versions that would let handhelds from different manufacturers use each other's peripherals "The Sony Clié, Handspring Visor, Blackberry RIM, etc. units may be challenging because of the availability of technical specs (RS232 pinout info). We are not ruling them out."

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No Bridge fo SONY, MACINTOSH and IPAQ

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/30/2001 9:15:08 AM #
Couldnt resist either

Troll Nuksta

RE: No Bridge fo SONY, MACINTOSH and IPAQ
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/30/2001 9:41:49 AM #

IPAQ <-> Mac
http://www.pocketmac.net/

Sony Clie <-> Mac
http://www.markspace.com/missingsync.html

Clie <-> IPAQ
Your on your own bud...

Good Idea

skoty @ 11/30/2001 9:16:43 AM #
No this is a good idea. I have seen quite a few complaints from Palm users about Palm changing their connectors so often. Supposedly they won't do it again for the next 2 years, but they sure have for the last 2 years. If Palm won't support backwards compatability, then somebody should. Now somebody does, and I think they stand to make alot of money from people who have been using/upgrading their Palm devices for a long time.

Very innovative. Nice going.

Great idea
Coyote67 @ 11/30/2001 9:27:47 AM #
Now this is a great idea. Finally someone made what I've been hoping would be made a long time ago. With this baby you no longer have to get a new stowaway. HOORAH. Or whatever. I wouldn't mind a Visor to universal connector or visor to palm5/3 connector. Hell, if anything ever comes out for the clie, maybe a visor to clie adapter too :P And for 30 its a pretty damn good deal.

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When you find yourself in the company of a halfling and an ill-tempered Dragon, remember, you do not have to outrun the Dragon...you just have to outrun the halfling.

Device which does the reverse?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/30/2001 9:46:44 AM #
Is there a device which would allow you to do the opposite? Use Universal connector peripherals on a Vx?

RE: Device which does the reverse?
skoty @ 11/30/2001 10:04:09 AM #
That would be great if there was. This company could become the first PalmOS "adapter king". They should come out with one for every combination of Handspring, Visor, and Sony connectors. What an idea, I'm suprised that somebody didn't do this sooner!

RE: Device which does the reverse?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/30/2001 10:08:40 AM #
I'm waiting for a connector for my HandEra PalmIII serial to attach to the new universal connector peripherals. midwest designs help!

RE: Device which does the reverse?
TDS @ 12/1/2001 12:32:11 AM #
I can't see that that would work. The Universal connector is USB that can emulate serial, while the old connector is truly serial. I think that there are lots of signals on the new Universal connector that could not be easily added to the old one.

This is a great idea, and the price is right on the money!

Doug

Sleds

dspeers @ 11/30/2001 10:44:20 AM #
The adaptor will solve the problem of using a cradle or keyboard, but what about peripherals that use sleds, like the PalmModem or PalmPix camera? I know the slots on the back of the m50x are different than on the back of the Palm V. I have a Palm V GPS that I wouldn't mind using with my m505, but I don't know if this will let me do it.

Palm III -> Visor

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/30/2001 10:57:38 AM #
I have an old Palm III keyboard laying around but now own a visor. Is there any peripheral that will allow me to use it with the visor? (I looked w/ no success)

RE: Palm III -> Visor
TDS @ 12/1/2001 12:35:28 AM #
Write the company that produced this device. If they get enough requests for an adapter like this, they may just produce one. There may be technical problems, as the Visors connector is USB and I believe is missing some serial signals.

Doug

Big?

skoty @ 11/30/2001 12:20:30 PM #
I'm suprised at how big this is. There shouldn't be any memory or special hardware in there. I would think that it's just an adapter that connects pins on one side to pins on the other side. They aught to be able to make this aloth thinner/smaller.

RE: Big?
Coyote67 @ 11/30/2001 3:23:25 PM #
I think its that size to make up for the shape differences. PalmV connector is curved remember. Also, devices like the stowaway might cause body problems. Maybe its big for support. IMHO, its fine. I wonder though. Will there be problems with USB? Is there anything in the universal connector's voltage control for USB that might stop a PalmV with this connector from working correctly? If so, whats the point?

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When you find yourself in the company of a halfling and an ill-tempered Dragon, remember, you do not have to outrun the Dragon...you just have to outrun the halfling.

Too late

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/30/2001 6:42:46 PM #
Wow, the m505 has been out for what, 9 months now? Jeesh, people probably sold/auctioned off old perips, and bought new ones. These guys are a little too late...

RE: Too late
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/1/2001 12:05:47 PM #
So you are saying that the old peripherals are still in use by someone. right? Most likely by a friend or family member who may want to upgrade sometime in the next 2 years. Also, Palm has over 12 million customers so I doubt that even half of their customers has "bought new ones". Some of us probably waited for a special occasion to upgrade. Happy Holidays Midwest PCB Designs! Nice product. :)



RE: Too late
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/2/2001 10:59:10 AM #
Yes, it's too late, but this is Palm's fault. They have to STOP CHANGING THE *&^%$#@ FORMAT and give 3rd-party hardware manufacturers a chance to get product to market and have the market remain viable long enough to recoup investments in tooling!

Molded plastics and other custom bits take 9-12 months to make the trek from concept to retail. To be mucking with the format every two years means that you, the 3rd-party hardware maker, have a one year market window before your product is obsolete. Given this, I can't blame the reluctance of niche-market product makers to touch the platform.

That it took nearly 8 months after the m500 appeared for even a simple serial cable to hit the market makes the point. This is nuts!

RE: Not Too late
I.M. Anonymous @ 12/2/2001 3:13:23 PM #
Buddy, it ain't too late for the millions of users of the old device who haven't switched. The manufacturuer of this product isn't stupid. There will be a market for this baby for sure. As soon as they come out with the Clie version, I'm upgrading.

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