Does anyone know how to get a #PocketPC #PDA to mount and sync with #Linux?
Any information that I find is like 15 - 20 years old. It clearly used to be possible.
Simply plugging it in and lsusb in the terminal gives some pleasantly unexpected results even though it's not mounted or accessible for file transfers.
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@nazokiyoubinbou @in_sympathy Okay... So I discovered several things that were setting me back.
Bazzite doesn't give you easy access to the repos. They want everything to be done with Flatpacks. I guess this is due to the immutable nature of the distro, so I switched to my Mint pc and immediately found a lot of the programs in the repo!
It’s still going to be a pain to figure out but at least it looks like everything needed is available!
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@nazokiyoubinbou @in_sympathy
Most of the articles that I have come across mention the following programs:
SynCE – Allows Linux to communicate with #WindowsMobile and #WindowsCE devices.
Multisync – Manages the synchronization of PIM data like calendars, address, etc. and lets you decide what to sync.
Evolution – Microsoft Outlook compatible program.
There are some other programs that I have seen mentioned but I believe they are for older methods.
This might actually be possible! 👍
@irgndsondepp @nazokiyoubinbou @in_sympathy I am very much a novice when it comes to Linux. Like you say, I'm sure there are ways to access the repo on Bazzite, but it is just easier for me to switch to another distro than adding additional layers of complexity.
I'm hoping that once we get this figured out & working, then I can take what we learned & make it work in bazzite as well.
I really appreciate the advice & thanks for offering to help.
This feels like lost knowledge. 😂
@Judeau @irgndsondepp @in_sympathy Perhaps something Arch-based might give you even more options. The AUR (community repos) has quite a lot of stuff in it you won't find in mainline anything.
Flatpak is great for what it does, but it comes with a lot of caveats. Flatpak was never meant to replace a distro's own repos. The stuff available to it is very limited and everything is sort of sandboxed.
I didn't realize Bazzite goes for an immutable style. That's great for some things like security or media PCs or etc, but honestly I don't recommend anything immutable as an average user's daily driver. If you want something more modern than Mint but still very stable, perhaps Debian might scratch that itch. Or if you want something great for gaming, there's Cachy (but it is Arch-based...)
@nazokiyoubinbou @in_sympathy I installed Evolution and it looks very similar to Microsoft Outlook.
I was unable to find multisync. But there was a different version of SynCE called SynCEvolution.
I believe it takes the place of the original SynCE and multisync programs and integrates directly with Evolution.
I installed them last night before I went to bed but have not got to experiment with them yet.
Unfortunately, my Mint setup is not on my laptop so that will slow me down a bit.
@Judeau @in_sympathy Gotcha, good luck.
I haven't found a lot so far. I too ran across SyncEvolution and it seems to still be alive-ish, but I couldn't tell if it would work on such a device. (It has to support SyncML and I guess that means mostly stuff like calendar data/etc, not filesystem access or etc. Not sure what all you need it to sync.)
@nazokiyoubinbou @in_sympathy Fortunately, all #PocketPC programs can be installed with a .cab file that you drop onto the SD card and then install on the #PDA itself.
You don't have to use the programs .exe installer on a computer.
So, I am hoping that we can find a way to, at the very least, sync PIM data like notes, calendars, address book etc.
Evolution provides an Outlook style program for the PIM data and SynCE, in theory, should allow the PDA to be mounted and sync this data.
@Judeau @in_sympathy Oh I forgot about the .CAB files. It has been so long... I remember now I used to keep the most important stuff on my SD card in case the battery died and it lost the internal storage.
SyncEvolution says it supports Bluetooth btw.
@nazokiyoubinbou Oh yeah! I have spent an arduous amount of time extracting .cab files from the installers.
I have especially done so for all of the essential programs. Just like you said, I made a folder on my SD card and have them all in there. Even on my persistent devices.
Awesome! Thanks for the heads up. Bluetooth is cool. It's nice to have options though I personally opt for the USB cord.
I'm hoping when I get home this evening I will have a few hours to dig some more into this.
Judeau (EatTheRich)
IrgndSonDepp
Nazo