ProFile a Replacement Launcher and File Manager

Posted By: Ed Friday, May 10, 2002 9:56:39 AM

ProFile Utilities is a new app from Proporta that tries to do it all. First off, it is a replacement for the built-in application launcher. It has a Today Summary, which shows each day's appointments and To-Do's at a glance. ProFile also has a file manager, which can move files between RAM and an SD card. It can compress files to save space and encrypt them to prevent unwanted people from using them. It even has a small scratch-pad for scrawling a quick note. ProFile Utilities is available now for $22.

The Launcher replacement allows applications to be placed into user-editable categories and moved around via drag and drop. It works like the Start Menu in Windows. Tapping on an icon that looks like a spring opens a menu divided into categories. Tapping on one of these displays the apps in that category. It displays applications stored on a removable memory card.

The file manager can ZIP any file or application. Files can be encrypted by placing them into ProFile's "Safe". Encryption takes place fairly quickly, about 50k per second.

ProFile requires Palm OS 3.5 or greater and currently works only on handhelds made by Palm Inc.  Proporta is working on a new version which will support more handheld models.

Two PalmOS related companies, PalmTec and Scribble, have recently merged to form Proporta, which makes and sells both hardware and software.

Related Information:

Article Comments

 (31 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down

Profile Utilities

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 10:06:40 AM #
This software has a LONG way to go. Frankly, I'm surprised that it is for sale. I licensed it early (when it was $10) and it still doesn't work properly. Datebook items have never been visible in the main profile screen, for example.
I believe that when they get it together that it will be a good app. I especially like the zip utility. But, on one upgrade the apps that I'd zipped became corrupted when I unzipped them. This caused a hard reset. Apparently they'd changed the way that it zips files. Subsequent releases haven't included a file that I believe may be a zip library (pzip).
I patiently await the stability of this application.
RE: Profile Utilities
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 10:41:15 AM #
Were you using betas? I downloaded the trial and it's 1.0.
RE: Profile Utilities
Ronin @ 5/10/2002 11:44:31 AM #
I tried version 1.0 or, should I say, tried to try version 1.0 but each time I install it my m515 immediately crashes. The program takes over the launcher button automatically which would have made it really difficult to delete if I did not have access to the other applications on my Palm thru Pop!.

I have even tried disabling any hacks and the launcher running prior to the install, performing a recent and still no luck. Anyway it looks interesting but can't give it a go because, apparently, it does not like my Palm.

RE: Profile Utilities
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 12:08:05 PM #
I am not using a beta of Profile Utilities. Datebook items do not appear in the Profile main screen.

Another poster said that it takes over as the main launcher and then crashes when he deletes it. You have a menu option to exit Profile Utilities. If you delete Profile Utilities without exiting first, you're asking for a crash.

RE: Profile Utilities
fkclo @ 5/10/2002 12:20:35 PM #
I have a very good experience with TomeRaider but am quite disappointed with Profile. It crashes my Visor Pro badly. I just can't use it.

RE: Profile Utilities
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 12:38:01 PM #
RTA

"ProFile requires Palm OS 3.5 or greater and currently works only on handhelds made by Palm Inc.  Proporta is working on a new version which will support more handheld models. "

RE: Profile Utilities
Ronin @ 5/10/2002 1:17:16 PM #
"Another poster said that it takes over as the main launcher and then crashes when he deletes it. You have a menu option to exit Profile Utilities. If you delete Profile Utilities without exiting first, you're asking for a crash."

Assuming this is a reference to my post, you misunderstand.

I have not been able to run this program on my m515 at all. Immediately after the hotsync to install it, I tap the applications icon to open the launch and it crashes causing a reset. After the rest another tap on the applications icon causes the another crash and so on. I have tried to figure out what is causing the conflict to no avail thus it was deleted.

As a side note once I delete it (having never actually opened it), the applications icon acts normally and there is no crash despite the fact that I never actually 'exited' Profile Utilities first.

End of story.

Horrible web site

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 10:11:50 AM #
What a horrid web site. No screen shots of what the program looks like? Come on. I'm not going to waste my time downloading and installing a program that I have no idea what the interface even looks like. Hey guys: Get a clue and spend 10 minutes putting screen shots of your programs on your web page.
RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 10:33:15 AM #
I agree. The web site is pretty, but not functional.

JBH

RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 10:34:44 AM #
Proporta (the tome raider company) has always had awful web sites, with terrible flashing ads for their sophmoric and pathetic mondo pondo software. They still haven't learned...
RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 10:45:16 AM #
hai, i just came back from their office in Hove, UK when I returned the InnoPocket Clie hardcase (because I am selling the T615 and getting a m515). They are busy rebranding their whole catalogue (from Scribble and PalmTec). Really busy. Its really nice and cosy for you to just in front of the computer and compain, besides there has always been a screen shot. If you want to try it, you will be brought to one of the Palm archive sites and you can see the screenshot there and download the demo there. Why complain.
RE: Horrible web site
Beavis @ 5/10/2002 10:55:26 AM #
Why complain?

Because it is a horrible website.

RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 11:24:15 AM #
m515 guy, we complain because God commanded us in Leviticus, "thou shalt not suffer a crappy website." Now stop religiously persecuting me and let's get back to the subject matter at hand...
RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 11:27:57 AM #
Speaking of God, who in God's name would sell a T615 and purchase a m515!!! (I'm a m505 user, and a drool over the T615 every time I play with it in the stores).

JBH

RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 11:31:52 AM #
You're right... he's a complete heretic. Probably selling his Sony TV too.
Lets back to the software
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 11:37:21 AM #
I was on the phone to their head office in the UK and informed that m505 frozz when trying out the new software and could not get out and had to do a hard reset. Note: this a problem!

Now regarding to person who selling there Sony 615, I would think you would sell the 616 in order to get the NR70V?

Brett
www.pdainhand.com

OK web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 11:49:45 AM #
You all are over reacting (as people on the Net often do.) They have alot of hardware and software nicely arranged in categories. It wasn't confusing at all. The site needs to add screen shots. Once that happens, it will be fine. Can we move on now?
RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 12:11:39 PM #
It's a very crappy website. They've never been good about maintaining their website. I had a major problem when I purchased from them (currency issue). While this has been corrected, the website still needs lots of work. Also, I can't figure out where to download trials of their products on the website. You'd think that you could download trials on their website.
RE: Horrible web site
Altema @ 5/10/2002 1:31:45 PM #
"who in God's name would sell a T615 and purchase a m515!!!"

Someone who is away from the cradle and can't recharge for a while? I had to make that same decision too. Beautiful screen, but I would be driving home from work with a dead battery.

Crappy website
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 7:17:22 PM #
Just more crap to clutter the PDA screen. If these people can't even develop a user-friendly website, I doubt they can do any justice to a functional launcher!
RE: Crappy website
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 7:50:41 PM #
Amen brother!
RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/12/2002 4:31:48 AM #
*sigh*
It's called the universal connector. Why bother with the Clie's lack of hardware? The Palm's form factor has MOUNDS of available hardware. What it lacks in resolution, it makes up for in attachments. Is that so hard to understand?
RE: Horrible web site
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/12/2002 6:47:43 AM #
The real issue is: why did he bother buying a t615 in the first place? And the answer is the success of Sony's marketing efforts. Hype sells.

Zen Violation

sandbuck @ 5/10/2002 11:40:06 AM #

Windows <> Palm OS
Palm OS <> Windows

The Windows wanna-be apps are pretty to look at, fun to play with, but ultimately get in the way of what you really want to do.

RE: Zen Violation
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/11/2002 9:20:28 PM #
Well said!

Buddha Bob

Skin support?

Foo Fighter @ 5/10/2002 1:38:17 PM #
No skin support? :-(

Do-it-all programs...

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/10/2002 5:00:27 PM #
From the article:
"ProFile Utilities is a new app from Proporta that tries to do it all."

And therein lies the problem. The success of Palm apps typically has been that they do tasks well and do not try to do everything. The problem with "do-it-all" designs is that if there is a component that you don't like or doesn't work as expected, you are stuck with it for sake of the whole app. Better to create a lean, modular app that is fast and tailorable by each user.

Note: There are exceptions to this, but for the most part, lean, apps have been more successful. A good exception is the DateBK program. While it is huge, and it has a TON of features, the author has provided so many preference settings that it is completely tailorable.

RE: Do-it-all programs...
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 7:54:23 AM #
Well said. As far as a launcher goes, it's hard to beat Silverscreen!
RE: Do-it-all programs...
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 9:41:35 AM #
Yes. As for SilverScreen, there is nothing like that feeling when you successfully delete it.

ProFile

mrscarey @ 5/14/2002 6:53:38 AM #
Just installed it on my m505 and it worked and showed To Dos.

Not impressed with the clunky interface but it does what it says on the tin.

I have now removed it because I do not need a GUI mask over the already acceptable Palm interface.

I use McPhling as my launcher - it shows me my most used apps and my favourite apps so I do not NEED to sort them using the default Palm Launcher (but I do).

I ascribe to the Keep It Simple Stupid philosophy of Palm.

mrscarey

palmist and visionary

I think its is a great program

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/15/2002 7:37:43 AM #
I dont know about Profile not working on your palms, on my M505 it works just great. IMHO it the best of its kind. I know what you mean about the screen shots though!!!
Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: