SDHC driver released for Palm OS devices

It looks like those still hanging onto a slightly aging Palm OS device now have a new option that'll let 'em breath a bit of new life into it, as one Dmitry Grinberg has released a driver that adds SDHC card support to a whole host of the devices. That includes the Tungsten T, C, E2, and T5, the LifeDrive, the Palm TX, and the Zire 31 and 72 -- support for other devices, including the Tungsten T3 and, yes, even the Tapwave Zodiac, is also promised. That boost in storage doesn't come free, however, but we're guessing there's at least a few Palm loyalists out there that'll gladly accept the $21 price tag to get a taste of what 32GB of storage is like.

[Via TamsPalm]

[Loonie @ Sep 19th 2008 1:40PM]

YESSSSSSSS!!

My PalmTX/Bhaji's Loops set-up just went and got itself a bigger sample library!

[JerryA @ Sep 19th 2008 1:46PM]

Didn't Malatesta or someone put out an SDHC driver a while back? I seem to remember running across one when I had my old Treo.

[David Russell @ Sep 19th 2008 2:31PM]

I'm a bit confused by this story as well. I currently have a Treo 755p (that uses MiniSD - or MicroSD w/card adapter) and use an 8GB SDHC card. But... my recently replaced Treo 700p (SD card) got a Palm firmware upgrade (not a hack) from Palm's website almost a year ago... and used the same 4GB SD card until my phone died. Still looking to upgrade to (GOD WILLING) the HTC Touch HD... when/if it comes to Sprint.

[Bernhard @ Sep 19th 2008 2:41PM]

This Driver is mainly for non-treo devices which Originally did not support SDHC card. Many Treos and Centros already contain an SDHC Driver out of the box.

[oki @ Sep 19th 2008 3:22PM]

@David

Any treo from 680 and up had SDHC support devices before such as the 650 and 600 and all normal palms didnt have it, atleast that wasnt supported. 650 and 600's could use the driver that came with the 680 to work with such

[JerryA @ Sep 19th 2008 3:31PM]

Ah, yeah, thanks Anon. It was Shadowmite. I dunno why I thought Malatesta. Must have just seen his name a lot on the same boards back then and mixed it up. I just remembered this from my Treo 650.

[The_Steven @ Sep 19th 2008 2:18PM]

What about my Zire71? You didn't mention that one...

[Anonymous @ Sep 19th 2008 3:10PM]

Had a Treo 650 with SDHC support for over two and half years - for free two.
Thx Shadowmite! Requires two files (fat32.prc and MMSDCard.prc) and the free awesome, easy RomTool.

http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=106598

[Jonathan @ Sep 19th 2008 4:42PM]

I could never really figure out the ROM tool stuff so I just dragged and dropped the file over and it worked great. 8GB SDHC for the treo 650. Sure, if I hard reset, I have to do it agian. But oh well.

[Zorque @ Sep 19th 2008 7:11PM]

I love my 650, I really wish more smartphones came with bootloaders.

I also wish the hacked SDHC drivers for it were a little faster, but it's nice enough just to have them.

[daddycool @ Sep 19th 2008 4:12PM]

LOL Slightly..... Get an HTC already.

[TavisJohn @ Sep 19th 2008 4:20PM]

Thanks Palm, I like the idea I can have HDSD cards in my lifedrive... Now release an update TO HAVE IT WORK PROPERLY WITH VISTA!!!!!!
I would like to sync via USB and use DRIVE MODE! Without those options, than this update is USELESS!!!!


Also the price is a bit high... But I might be able to justify it if you added FULL VISTA SUPPORT for the Lifedrive!

(Yea I know I can sync over Bluetooth and WiFi, but a direct USB transfer of music or movies would be way faster!)

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 19th 2008 4:33PM]

Putting E2 on charger right now.

Honestly, I love my E2, but am looking to move to a smartphone.

[xxscully484xx @ Sep 19th 2008 4:45PM]

what OS is the lifedrive running?

[pheer6224 @ Sep 19th 2008 5:42PM]

That's just a theme mod for the regular palm OS 5.4.9

[pekosROB @ Sep 19th 2008 5:19PM]

I think the T|X supports up to 2 GB. When I bought mine I'm pretty sure I researched the largest card for it. That was back when 2 GB SanDisk cards were $40 - which was a bargain at the time. My my how technology just keeps getting cheaper... I love it!

[Ryu Darragh @ Nov 16th 2008 12:28PM]

Go to palmpowerups.com and get D'mItrys PowerSDHC driver and your T|X will be able to handle up to 32GB flash cards. I also recomment pTunes 4.0 (handles MP3, AAC, OGG, etc), TMPC/Core, which plays MPG2 and DivX files and AudioGateway (gives you Bluetooth 2.1 stereo headset compatibility).

[pheer6224 @ Sep 19th 2008 5:41PM]

Wait-does this work on the 650?

[Chris Taylor @ Sep 19th 2008 5:51PM]

Oh man thats going to be amazing. 64 GB in my Zodiac. Oh yeah :-) can not wait!

[Matt W @ Sep 20th 2008 12:56AM]

I have a trustly Palm lifedrive that I have been using for a few years - I replaced the microdrive with a Compact Flash so battery lasts way longer now. Dmitry also has a cool app called "Powerdrive" that lets you use as large a compact Flash card as you like - so you can go 32G CF internally,
and now with the SDHC driver, up to 32G externally... makes the lifedrive like new again.

BTW: My lifedrive runs Palm OS 5.4.0 - its an Intel ARM PXA27x ~418 mHz, has Wi-fi, and a built in microphone. There are SIP / VOIP clients for it, and if you have pervasive wifi, you can use it like a phone.

I got an ipod touch the other day - I love the email on the thing, but the palm can do a million other things better than the ipod/iphone

Just wish the OS and Palm tools werent so clunky.

My $.02.... ;)

[Slick @ Sep 20th 2008 2:24AM]

sweetness- my T|X just got a massive upgrade

[Laurel @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:38PM]

Slick, have you actually downloaded the driver, yet, for SDHC for your Palm T|X? I am thinking about purchasing a Palm T|X and would like to get the maximum storage card I can get. Would you let me know? Thanks much!

[RedBull Runner @ Sep 20th 2008 5:44PM]

This would be awesome if the microdrive in my Lifedrive hadn't died... If only I could find a half-way decent priced 4GB CF card that would work

[dnc @ Sep 25th 2008 2:04AM]

Why can a similar thing be done for Old Laptops ???
Does anyone know ??

[aaronlintz @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:30AM]

Just get over this one. Get a Psion or a Newton. Way more geek Cred.