NOTE: The Coola service has unfortunately been closed down due to "major changes in the marketplace."

Reviewed by: Greg Gaub

About Coola (provided by Coola)

Coolaź is an amazing new service that lets you take information from web pages or emails and put it wherever you want it on your Palm handheld. Addresses, directions, travel itineraries, restaurant reviews, apartment listings - any and all types of information can be transferred in a snap into the Palm application you want, when you want. It's fast. It's easy. And it's free!

YAY!

This is the service I've been waiting for! It's the perfect thing for Palm Users Groups! Now, with Coola installed on your machine(s), all you have to do is click on someone's link to add that item to your PalmOS device. Currently, this includes Date Book events, Memos, and Address Book information. This is what I was looking for when I tried out Anyday.

Installation

Installation instructions are page-by-page on their web site, so, while reading their web page, you are performing the installation procedures. Starting with a 407k download, running the installer program installs Coola software to your computer. For some users (including me) this requires an additional download from Palm called JSync.dll, which happens automatically during the install process. This dll provides Java sync support, and is a 2.3 meg download. Depending on your modem speed, this could take under a minute, or upwards of 30 minutes, so be prepared. The advantage is that if you install other software that uses this dll, you won't have to download it again. In fact, you may already have it installed by another application. The installer then adds the Coola.prc file to the PalmOS install list. I had a previous version of the Coola desktop software (a hidden conduit) installed, so the installer program removed that first, then installed the new version. The Coola web site then instructed me to HotSync my Palm to install the Coola.prc file. I then had to HotSync AGAIN so that the Coola software would ask for and get my e-mail address and password. Yes, registration for their free service is required. I had already registered, so I knew what to enter. If you're unregistered, you can do it at this point of the installation process. After that, you're all set to create "Coolets" and click on them to add the information to your device. They even have a "starter page" with a bunch of Coolets you can click on, including PUG meeting times and sports schedules for your Date Book, and poetry and recipes for the Memo Pad. I clicked on a bunch to check them out (more below).

Coola.prc

The Coola.prc file on the PalmOS unit is a measly 4k, almost ignorable. It mainly serves as a Palm-side conduit for the information, and as a "share Coola with a friend" type application to beam Coola to another PalmOS device. I tucked the app in my System folder and forgot all about it. :)

Coolets

Coolets are what Coola calls the links used by their system to install the information to your device. When you click on a Coolet link, Coola gathers the information and puts it in a list of items to add to your device on your next HotSync. When you click a Coolet for the first time, a new window will open, and you'll have to provide your e-mail and password again, for the web server taking the info. You can choose for it to remember you, which is what I did. After you're logged in, it will inform you that the Coolet has been added, and the window will close on it's own after a few seconds (which is nice). I synced my device to add the information to it, and checked it out. I did notice, however, that adding a Date Book entry through Coola causes an error in the HotSync log. Simply put, the Coola-added reminders don't get synced back to the desktop db, so the error says there are more entries on the handheld than the desktop. The next HotSync solved the problem by syncing the new entry to the Palm desktop. This error is not a problem at all, but might confuse less savvy users at first.

Creating Coolets

Creating Coolets is a simple matter of filling out a form, and copying the link they provide onto your web page or into your e-mail message. You choose what kind of Coolet to make (Address, Memo, or Event) and then fill out the form. The form asks for pretty much the same info that your Palm device does, so there's no confusing fields to figure out. Once you fill out the form, you get a page with four things to do. You can copy the Coolet URL itself to paste into your e-mail message or signature (or SeaPUG membership form ;-). You can copy an HTML code snippet to place a nifty image link on your web site for the Coolet. You can send the Coolet link to a friend via e-mail. And, you can click the Coola link to add it to your device. Also, you don't have to register to create and send Coolets, only to receive them to your device.

myCoola

This is their name for the member services offered at their site. After you log in, you have several options: Edit Account Info (to change your e-mail or other info); Create/Update your Coola Signature (a special kind of Address Coolet); View/Edit/Delete Your Coolets (and get the URL/HTML for them if you lost them); View and Edit your Circle of Friends (to specify who may add items to your device through Coola); View and Delete Unsynced Coolets (in case you clicked too soon ;-); Feedback (to send Coola a message); and Logout (in case other people use your computer).

Likes

1. Unique and valuable new FREE service!
2. Tiny 4k app on the Palm
3. Seamless integration with Date Book, Memo, and Address Book apps
4. Highly responsive (virtually immediate) support team
5. Ability to view, edit, and delete Coolets has been added!

Dislikes

1. None

Rating: 5 needles (out of five).

If you would like to add any comments or corrections to my review, please contact me at flux@snapbag.com