I've put a new version of the Empire application on the Palantir webpage. The major change is that I've added a Hijack popup message whenever you insert songs into the playlist to let you know that it worked. Current users can just replace the empire binary on their players. Here's a screenshot of the popup when it happens:



I've also updated the installation instructions for Empire to reflect that you may now use the stock Hijack kernel to run Empire on your Empeg. Hijack version 336 gives control of the serial port back to the player AND includes IrDA support by default, so there is no need to have a modified Hijack kernel running. NARRATOR: And there was much rejoicing. KNIGHTS: Yay!

Oh sweet! This is awesome!

Hey, you stole my popup idea Looks sweet.

-Mike

Yes, yes I did

Displaying a status message when someone beamed a playlist over was on my todo list, and I hadn't done any research on it yet. I came across your thread, saw how easy it was (with Hijack), modified a few lines of code and BAM, there you go.

Palantir has developed into something totally cool and I'm gonna have to get a Palm since the install is now super easy. Since I know nothing about Palms, what exactly am I looking for? The minimum needed would be? But the recommended would really be?

Thanks!
-Chuck

The minimum device for running Palantir runs Palm OS 3.0, has an IrDA port, and has available memory to store your music database. Almost all Palm devices have 2 megs of memory, so that should be enough for you. My database is ~420k and I have about 5800 songs, so the rule of thumb is probably: if you have more than 10k songs on your player, get a Palm device with more than 2 megs. Devices that meet these minimum criteria are the Palm III series, the Handspring Visor series, the Zire, etc. I think that they made some Palm IIIs without IrDA, so just make sure it has an IrDA port before buying. Basically, every Palm unit except the original Pilot series will work with Palantir. You can buy many of these lower end units (especially Visors) on eBay for around $40.

There is no recommended unit as long as you can store your database on the unit. The minimum requirement units work just as well as a brand new Tungsten C at running Palantir, so you should be asking yourself "what else will I be using the Palm device for" and then buy using that criteria. If you are going to be using it only for Palantir, and keeping it in the car (you might as well sync phone numbers and addresses to it too), you should probably buy a Handspring Visor on eBay for cheap. If you want to use the device for other things (phone, color pictures, portable MP3 player) there are many, many other choices out there that would be best researched on another website. A few that are pretty good:

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/
http://www.palminfocenter.com/
http://www.epinions.com

I've borrowed a Sony SJ20 from coworker and have everything installed on the Clie and the Empeg. But when I press 'Beam' I don't get a response from the Empeg. I checked to make sure Empire and IRattach are running and both are. Any ideas?

My experience with that is summed up here .

-Zeke

Post a serial log (just the last 20 lines or so). Make sure you are holding the Palm within 2-5 inches away fromt the Empeg, and aiming the IrDA port at the Empeg's IrDA port (above the volume knob)

OK. Palantir is THE SHIT!

But, is there any way to make it clear the current playlist and then play the beamed playlist?

Sorry you feel Palantir is a piece of shit.

Sometime in the near future, I'm going to make it configurable to either insert/append/replace the current playlist.

ohohoh.. That is too cool. I just put it on my player. Haven't even used it yet, and I like it. Mucho cool!

Thanks!
Mike.

Sorry you feel Palantir is a piece of [censored].

I know you put the smiley there, but I just want to make sure you don't think I think Palantir is a piece of shit. In an urban environment, "the shit" can be translated to mean "very excellent."

For shizzle!

I'm glad you like it, Rob, and I assure you I did not take your comment the wrong way. Sometimes it's too bad that we can't convey humour via text like we can in person, but hey, it's what we have to work with, right!