Bored with the look your Palm sports? Ashish Gupta has a few options that can give your Palm handheld a fresh new look

Although the Palm OS is a simple and powerful OS, it lacks heavily in the looks department. If you’ve used your Palm device for even a short amount of time, you’ve probably noticed that the interface is rather plain. This article will introduce you to some options that will convert the plain old look of your Palm OS to a new and fresh look. Like taking your Palm handheld device to the parlour.

SilverScreen
When I first downloaded and tested SilverScreen, I was amazed at the way it changed the look of my OS. I wasn’t even aware that the Palm OS could look this good. I haven’t uninstalled it since.

This application launcher, while greatly enhancing the looks of the OS, maintains its simplicity. It has an extensive library of themes, and you can select a look that suits your taste. Switching between various looks or themes is a single-tap process.

Apart from enhancing the looks, it even enhances the functionality of the OS. It offers much faster access to system information, easy categorisation of applications, one-tap beaming of applications and a neat drag-and-drop recycle bin.

Drag-and-drop applications into the pop-up toolbox to categorise, beam, delete or get info in a flash. Change to the list view to compare file attributes or to sort with a single tap. Set up the Stroke of Genius for intuitive access to the functions you use often. Assign a favourite application or function to a Hot Spot for one-tap access. Lock your device, perform a soft reset or even a simple shut down from the device menu. Whatever the task may be, it’s simpler and more efficient with SilverScreen.

Version 2.0 introduces a ticker that keeps you up-to-date on Datebook and To Do items without ever leaving the launcher environment. In addition, a tabbed interface makes navigating between categories even easier than before. A host of other improvements fine tune performance to create the ultimate PDA experience. SilverScreen represents an unparalleled fusion of form and function, style and substance.

Launcher X
Launcher X is the eagerly anticipated update to the popular Launcher III, a highly configurable application launcher that replaces the built-in launcher on your palm-powered handheld.

Manage and organise your applications with a simple drag-drop action, quick access to common functions using the Gadget toolbar, manage applications on the memory card, browse through the memory card and rename/copy/delete files and folders, and configure the look and behaviour of your UI with Active Skins.

Launcher X’s all new Mail Gadget supports sending e-mail using the hottest e-mail application—SnapperMail. Just drag a document or application onto the Mail gadget and let SnapperMail do the rest. Launcher X supports all screen resolutions and graphics APIs. Whether you’re using a Sony Clie, an OS 5 device, a HandEra 330 or just a plain ol’ 160x160 device, Launcher X supports you in colour and greyscale. It supports jog dials and even the new Tungsten 5-way pad.

Launcher Plus!
Launcher Plus! 1.2 is a new and cool application launcher for the Palm OS. This add-on for the Palm allows you to customise your Palm with different themes. It offers support for a wide range of devices, allows you to beam programs directly from your external memory cards, supports full size wall paper upto 64K colours, breaks the barrier of 16 categories, Launcher PLUS! supports up to 255 categories with cute icons.

All visual elements of the skins are customisable. These include wall papers, toolbar, buttons, icons and colours and offers the ability to beam your skins to your friends.

Mega Launcher (VIP)
This is a powerful application control manager. It offers various ways of information representation, SD/MMC support for all Palm OS devices, Sony memory stick support for all CLIE devices, HandEra external card support, Application launching directly from external cards, built-in world clock, integrated trash bin, integrated archivator for application compressing, list of favourite applications, list of frequently used applications, list of applications used lately, sorting by application parameters, sorting by application types, built-in test utilities and a host of other functions.

Other launchers worth checking out include Smart Launcher and Zlauncher. Install and try out these launchers to find out which suits your Palm handheld the best. Once you start using them, you’ll never want to go back to the plain-old-look.

Ashish Gupta is the founder and president of The Indian Palm User Group. He can be reached at ash@notcomguys.com