Run and Sync AvantGo from Expansion Card

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, September 25, 2001 12:10:05 PM

ToySoft has released Avantage, a small application that allows AvantGo to be run from an expansion card. All AvantGo's files are stored on the card and moved into RAM whenever the application is launched or HotSynced. This saves space in RAM when the app isn't being used but enough space for AvantGo and its files must be available in RAM in order to open the app. Avantage is $10 and a 15-day trial is available.

Avantage works with any external card that uses the Virtual File System (VFS). This includes the Palm m500 series, HandEra 330, and Sony Clié.

AvantGo is a Web browser that allows a user to select from preformatted "channels" on the company's Web site and download these channels onto the user's palmtop when a HotSync is performed. These are then available to be read at any time. The channels include everything from the New York Times to Palm Infocenter.

Thanks to danny for the tip. -Ed

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This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 12:30:03 PM #

What is the point of all of this if you still need to copy all the files to ram before starting up avantgo? It just doesn't make any sense. Is this any different than powerrun's little avantgo hack which we all agree is useless for avantgo?

I guess i'll have to live with a *6* MB palm for a little bit longer! =)

Offtopic(sorta): Is there a util that does what msmount/pidirect but doesn't impose the readonly database restriction?

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 12:48:37 PM #

PowerRun will not allow AvantGo to properly update it's data during a HotSync.

Yes, the program which does what MSMount/PIDirect does and allows read only access is PowerRun. The price you pay for read/write access is the time it takes to copy the entire file to RAM. It's unavoidable unless you get your favorite apps to directly support VFS.

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

OrionNE @ 9/25/2001 12:51:30 PM #

I agree. I tried it and it is SSLLOOOWWWW!!!! Not only slow but how are you saving space if you must have the same amount of RAM free that you store from AvantGO to your card. Makes no sense to me. You are not saving space just moving it for a short time.

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 1:05:40 PM #

This is great if you have given up on the old fashioned idea that all applications should reside in internal memory all the time. Applications should be stored on the card until they are run. This leaves most of your RAM free to run big applications.

The RAM doesn't have to be reserved only for AvantGo. Once you close AvantGo, you can run another application from the card in that same RAM space. When you close it, you can run AvantGo again.

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 1:22:15 PM #

There appears to be an misunderstanding on Avantage and other related tools on how they work. The reason why Avantage existed is because currrently there are no automate method of running AvantGo and sync your channels to the external card. Of course you could use Workbench or PowerRun to run AvantGo from the card but these tools don't sync your channels properly. Have to tried sync AvantGo with PowerRun? is it possible??

With Avantage you could sync your channels automatically. Of course it needs ram space. There isn't a way to run or sync files directly from the card yet, of course correct me if i'm wrong.

The way I use Avantage and other large application eg: QuickOffice, FireViewer etc.. what I do is move them to the card and always leave about 2megs of free ram on the handheld. I can then run any app from the card that I want. This eliminates having all the apps in ram and running out of ram. Of course this depends on the size of the app and ram left.

Hope this clear things up.

danny

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 1:33:48 PM #

There's a lot of talk about how you can't sync avantgo with powerrun. That's totally wrong.. you can. in fact, it works better than avantage's "copy to ram before sync" implementation.

with the avantgo/powerrun hack that PIC talked about earlier, you leave the avantgo file on the memory card, then sync the palm. Avantgo automatically recopies all the avantgo file back onto ram.

When you take the palm out to run again, powerrun see's the new files doesn't copy the ones from ram and when you close avantgo powerrun will recopy the files into the card overwriting the old ones.

At least, that's my understanding on how it works. Right?

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 4:21:30 PM #

I aggree with danny.

Having a program like advantage let you run multiply "large" programs on your Palm, even if it is a little but of a hassle to move them back and forth, at least you have the ability to keep the software on your Palm and not have to do the old "delete this program to hotsync this other program I need on the Palm at this moment"

Good Job Toysoft!

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

OrionNE @ 9/25/2001 4:55:16 PM #

Ok. I understand the memory saving theory now. Just wasn't thinking in that manner. But it is still slow. a two minute sync not takes twelve minutes. I realise that this is due to the copy to ram then back to the card during sync.

It just stinks to have to wait. I usally sync and run.. With this program I would have to plan my sync ahead of time. Guess I will just have to block out some time in Datebook. hahaha

RE: This is no substitute for actual avantgo VFS support

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 4:55:22 PM #

Here's what I think:
Avantage minus PowerRun (with DONTSAVE feature) equals having two big 'AvGoDocsMQ.prc' file (in RAM and in Card). With PowerRun, all I have to do is run AvantGo and the newer file gets to be copied to the card and deleted from RAM (what Avantage aims to do).

If this is the case, I'd rather use PowerRun and wait for the Avantgo VFS version. For the meantime, I'll just run Avantgo everyafter I hotsync.

This utility might be short-lived.

Power Run

shoryu @ 9/25/2001 9:23:00 PM #

Power Run works better for the same purpose, really.

I am not sure...

Kaitou @ 9/25/2001 11:11:51 PM #

if this is really worth $10, when you can get Power Run for $20, which does all that and more, while this works with only one application, which may be upgraded in the future, making this program obsolete....

RE: I am sure

bigweekend @ 10/13/2001 6:59:04 AM #

dear avantgo - please get it together and include an exp card feature in your next update. it isnt rocket science. am happier using the powerrun(can do much more) or a freebie LauncherIII.