Yes, that's possible. Unfortunately, the 3.5.2 version of the PalmOS found
in the PEG-N700C and PEG-N710C
doesn't support more than 256 colors, unless the programmers
manage to "hack" the system by subtle direct hardware handling
like Red Mercury did with the Sixteen application.
This is not desirable though as it increases dramatically the work of the
programmer.
Beside the color number supported, PalmOS 3.5.2 has other limitations (the
required USBswitcher.exe for USB hotsync is the most noticeable, and with
the release of Windows XP it becomes a serious limitation).
The best solution is to update the PalmOS version to 4.1, which will soon
be possible by sending the Clie back to Sony - and paying US$50 or JPY10.000
(available around mid-november).
For information, the upgrade could potentially be done by the user (but
you'd loose Sony's guaranty) using the JackSprat program (or more precisely
the FlashWrite utility included with JackSprat) from Brayder.
The upgrade process is inherently dangerous, and definitely not recommended
to newbies, and requires access to hardly accessible (legally at least)
files unless you already own a recent Clie device (PEG-N760C
or PEG-N770C) and are a registered JackSprat
user...
Short answer: It's possible... but you can't do it (yet!)
Long answer: Theoretically, it's possible. Practically, you need to reflash
the ROM with a ROM image in the appropriate language. At this time, the
PEG-S500C and PEG-N700C
ROM is available in Japanese only, while the PEG-S300
ROM is available in English and Japanese.
By the way, let me warn you that you probably don't want to flash an English
PEG-S300 ROM on a Japanese PEG-S500C
(in case you'd like a color Clie with an English interface). I know this
might seem a good idea, but the PEG-S500C
color screen might not be handled correctly by the monochrome PEG-S300
ROM. On the emulator, at least, this doesn't work (the emulator, when configured
as a PEG-S500C and when fitted with an
English PEG-S300 ROM, won't even boot
up...)
New: you can modify the PEG-S500C
ROM to get a true English interface (but that implies you have access to
a US PEG-S300 ROM). That being said,
there's still no way to reflash the modified ROm, but as soon as I've found
a way, you'll find here the needed instructions...:-)
The PEG-S320 exists only in US version
for now.
As for the PEG-N700C
and related models, there are Japanese ROM (700C and 750C) and English
ROM (710C, 760C et 770C) available.
Additional note: some ROM require more memory than others. The Japanese
ROM include some files (dictionnary words, fonts) to let you enter Japanese
text, and hence need a bigger ROM chip.
The first generation devices (S300 et S500C) are equipped with 4Mb FlashROM
in Japanese version, and 2 Mb in the English version.
The second generation devices (N6x0 et N7x0) have 8 Mb FlashROMinthe Japanese
version and 4Mb in the English version.
As a result, it's possible to reflash an English ROM on a Japanese device,
bu not the opposite (unless you also physically replace teh FlashROM chip
by a bigger one)
Whatever the available ROM images, you'll need a flashing tool anyway if
you intend to reflash the Clie ROM. Sony most probably has written such
a program, but it has not been released to the public or even to the registered
developers. No one, to my knowledge, has tried to flash the Clie ROM with
Palm's flashing tools, but chances are that it will not work, the Clie flashROM
chips being different from those used by Palm.
Last note: using a Japanese Clie doesn't prevent you from using non-Japanese software that will display its menus / interface in its own language. For more details see the page about using non Japanese programs on a Japanese Clie.
Short answer: Yes but... you can't do it (yet)!
Long answer: Theoretically, yes. Practically, you must wait for Sony to
release its Clie optimized PalmOS 4.0 ROM images, as well as some flashing
tools. Flashing a Palm IIIc (or m505, or any other non Sony color device)
4.0 ROM won't work as the hardware is different and requires some tweaking
by Sony to support things like MemoryStick and jogdial.
Let's face it, Sony probably won't release an upgrade to PalmOS 4.0 for
the "old" devices (S300/S500C), but the more recent models like
the 700C can be upgraded to PalmOS 4.1, turning them into a N750C (in Japan,
expected price 10.000 JP¥, available mid-november). Sony USA will offer
the same upgrade to N710C, but you'll have to pay US$50 and send your Clie
to Sony...
No for FlashPro but
Yes with JackFlash.
FlashPro author do not include the Clie in the list of the supported devices,
because the Clie ROM seems to be incompatible with other Palm devices ROM.
Let me express a big thank you to Brayder
(and urge you to use and register their software), as this company has shown
an outstanding support for the Clie devices! Thanks to them we can now use
the free FlashROM part, and soon they'll release a new version of JackSprat
that will let you remove unwanted files (like the Clie demo or the sample
pictures) from the ROM.
| On PalmOS devices built by manufacturers other than Sony,
the Data Heap size is limited to a rather small value, 250 Kb on the
Palm m505 for instance, as shown on the screenshot on the right. Pros: this leaves more available memory to store files in RAM. Cons: you can easily run out of heap memory with badly written or simply memory-hungry programs. Consequences on RAM: The maximum available memory is 7.7 Mb on the m505, for instance. |
 |
| On PalmOS devices built by Sony, the Data Heap size has
deliberately been fixed to a high value, 1018 Kb for the N760C for instance,
as shown on the screenshot on the right. Pros: less risks to run out of Data Heap memory. Cons: less free RAM to store files. Consequence on RAM: The maximum available memory is 7 Mb on the N760C, for instance. |
 |