Palm OS Software 3.3 is out

Palm OS Software 3.3 is out. It offers faster HotSync and better Infrared HotSync support. Also note: "This upgrade is not a patch &endash; it is a permanent upgrade for your handheld. Using a new upgrade utility, Palm OS Software 3.3 is permanently installed into the memory of your handheld." The upgrade will not work with Palm IIIe and Palm VII devices. (Thanks Dave Krug of PalmMac.)

Warnings Be sure to read the warnings on the update page that appears just before you download the software. It contains important information about how to avoid losing data when you update. In this regard, Steven Strell adds:

I've just found out the hard way something not mentioned in the instructions for the new Palm OS upgrade. Here is the sequence that the upgrade performs:

1. Backup the Palm completely.
2. Update the OS. Note that when this is done, the Palm is completely wiped of any apps or data that were installed. Only the ROM apps and OS are left.
3. Restore all apps and settings from the backup in step one.

I normally have the conduit setting for my date book set to "Handheld overwrites Macintosh" since I never enter data into my PowerBook that I sync to. I only enter appointments into my Palm and then back them up to my PowerBook. Well, since step 2 erases all data on the Palm, when I restored in step 3, instead of restoring, it used the conduit setting. Thus, the empty date book overwrote the backup on my PowerBook, effectively destroying all my appointments!! There is no mention anywhere that step 3 uses the conduit settings as opposed to doing a complete restore of apps and data.