Only one application can run at the same time on Palm OS (the OS of Pilot, PalmPilot, Palm III, Work Pad and compatibles). This single task feature is not so bad for users, since applications launch quite fast and they, if well designed, remember their last state.

But haven't you ever felt bothered when you must quit application to see Graffiti Help and resume it? It's same when you want to see today's date.

As for developer's side, some programmers want to develop applications that handle other application's data, but ordinary application can't do that. So they must make it as a HACK. But HACK damages speed and stability even when it's not used, only installed.

Are there any solutions to solve such problems ?

Yes, here is!

Desk Accessory(DA) is one of the best solutions. It's a small application for such utilities. DA is the new type of application proposed by YAMADA Tatsushi, Hacker Dude-san. DA works on Palm Computing Platform.

DA is the special application like HACK, but not HACK. DA is invoked from the special launcher as DA Launcher, QuickLauncher or other launcher that can launch DA. So you must have installed special launcher for Desk Accessory prior to any DA installation. DA can run over the current application. So you don't have to quit the application to run DA. When DA quits, the application still continues to run.

DA is the special application, so programmers must develop applications as DA, not as ordinary application. Hacker Dude-san is planning to release the documents for rules and samples to develop DA.