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-- Software-based graffiti area? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=1512)

Is anyone else annoyed about how much space the graffiti area takes up? If it were implemented in software (like WinCE/PocketPC) you'd get over 35% more screen space for reading e-books, e-mail, or web pages! Granted, existing applications wouldn't be able to use the space right away, but just like color support, developers would soon release updates that would take advantage of it. I suppose this is more of a PalmOS issue than a Handspring issue (I doubt that their license allows Handspring to make so large a change without Palm supporting it), which actually makes me believe this will NEVER happen (since Palm appears to be moving toward even simpler devices/interfaces targeted at kids instead of making improvements targeted towards existing users)

(I was playing with an iPaq the other day and just needed to vent...can you believe that the feature missing in the visor that annoyed me the most wasn't color or built-in audio capabilities, but the software-based text entry area that can be 'minimized'? Just one of my pet peeves, I guess...)

I suspect that it was a design decision Jeff Hawkins' part (ergo Handspring), and not Palm's. I'm curious about this topic myself.

In interview, Hawkins has always explained why he's avoided certain features like color, PC/CF slots, natural handwriting recognition, etc. But I've never hear anyone ask him about the silkscreen vs. virtual Graffiti issue.

Since I had an Apple Newton before switching to a Palm III, I have to say that I really loved the silkscreen. I'm left-handed, which means that my hand trails over what I just wrote, and ofter required a lot of manual correction. But with a callable Graffiti area, the advantage of separating the display from the writing area is retained.

The only explanations I can think of for the silkscreen are lower power consumption (smaller screen repaints) and less wear on the screen, but these seem like pretty minor advantages. Has anyone ever heard the technical rationale behind the silkscreen?

could it have something to do with the PalmOS only being able to handle 160x160 resolution? Making the screen larger would lower the overall quality by spreading that 160x160 over a larger area?

quote:

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Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA:
could it have something to do with the PalmOS only being able to handle 160x160 resolution? Making the screen larger would lower the overall quality by spreading that 160x160 over a larger area?

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Palm is planning to move over to the StrongARM processor, which would be necessary for higher resolutions and backward compatibility through software emulation. While Palm would do that, I don't think Hawkins (Handspring) would, given his remarks against faster processors at PC Expo.

My take on the situation is that Palm feels that it's necessary to compete with the Pocket PC, because that's what all the pundits are saying. They see multimedia as the next big thing in PDAs. Hawkins seems to view communications as the next big thing, so color, high resolution, stereo, etc. are not priorities for him.

With this I agree. I would much rather have persistent voice and data connectivity than, say, color or high resolution.

Hoser's probably right about the square dimensions being the main factor in deciding against a virtual Graffiti area. Even with a faster processor, to maintain backward compatibility the resolution would probably have to be proportional to the 160 x 160 grid.

I too would like more viewable screen area. A "callable Graffiti area" would be great. (I would at least like to see some sort of backlight on the existing Graffiti area. Ever try to write in the dark? You can see the screen, but I keep hitting the Home and Menu buttons, knocking me out of whatever program I'm using.)