FIGURE D


The Edge connector attaches to the back of the Visor Edge. Roll over picture for a larger image.

This is useable, but it's ugly as a wart on a supermodel. Add a larger Springboard like the VisorPhone or the MiniJam, and you have one bulky handheld to carry around. This is not the best looking option, but it's functional.

Of course, having the Edge connector also means that you'll have to remove the cover to use the Springboards or any Edge connector boards that may come out, as the cover makes use of the same connection port.

Silent alarm
The Visor Edge uses Palm OS 3.52H, and they have made a couple of tweaks to the operating system for the occassion. One nice item that you'll like is the new silent alarm. This will blink the translucent power button when an alarm goes off, as shown in Figure E.

FIGURE E

With the silent alarm, the translucent power button will blink.

However, if you use DateBk 4 (at http://www.pimlicosoftware.com) instead of the built in Datebook+, you'll have to experiment to get the alarm to blink. I imagine that Pimlico will have an update to DateBk 4 in the near future to handle this issue.

Fast Lookup
Another nice addition is the new Fast Lookup for the address book. This allows you to find a phone number without opening the full address book or using the stylus. You can use the hardware buttons to navigate through the entries. I expect that this will be used a lot by most people.

To enter Fast Lookup mode, you just press the up arrow when the address book application is first launched or any time you are at the top of the address list. You'll hear a beep that tells you that you've entered Fast Lookup mode, and the bottom of the screen will show a visual representation of how the application buttons are remapped. To return to standard lookup mode from this screen, press the up scroll button again.

The alphabet is then divided into A-L and M-Z, as you can see in Figure F.

FIGURE F

The alphabet is divided into A-L and M-Z.

Pressing the corresponding button will filter entries accordingly. For example, the first time you press the A-L button, it'll eliminate all names whose first letter is between M and Z. If you press the A-L button again, it would eliminate all names whose second letter is between M and Z. Gradually, the names will be whittled down, making it easier to find who you're looking for, as shown in Figure G.

FIGURE G

Fast Lookup whittles down large Address Book directories.

I know it sounds confusing, but with a little practice, you can search your Address Book and find a single name while blindfolded and with one hand tied behind your back.

Problems
I had a couple of problems with my Visor Edge. The first review unit that was sent stopped working after a couple of hours for no apparent reason. As it was a pre-production version, I wasn't too surprised. The second unit seemed to have a slightly less sensitive screen than my Visor Deluxe. I frequently had to tap multiple times to get it to recognize input. This could also be the result of the new stylus, which is a bit flatter and not as comfortable as the PDA Panache stylus (at http://www.pdapanache.com) I've been using. It also lacks a reset pin, and that's something I miss.