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First Attempt at conversion -- clearing "/home/QtPalmtop/i18n/ja" directory |
Make a backup to CF first (of course), then launch a terminal application Terminal (ターミナル) came with my B500, but was missing when I updated the ROM to version 1.2JP ROM It should be on the 5600's system CD in the "applications" directory. Konsole is also available from killefiz.de/zaurus/showdetail.php?app=385 or from Handango. It is a free terminal app from Opie Project, and it does work on my B500's Sharp ROM su (login as admin) cd /home/QtPalmtop/i18n (going to this directory) ls (lists the files and dirs here) de en ja (results I got -- all users may not have the German de) mv ja wasja (moves ja to wasja (a rename in dos-speak)) ls (lists the files and dirs here; checking to see the mv/rename command was successful) de en wasja (results I got) mkdir ja (making a new dir named ja) ls (checking to see if the new ja was successfully created) de en ja wasja (it was there for me) exit exit soft reset (flip the switch near the battery cover on the back for a few seconds) The results for me? "Set System Time" is English Application names below icons are still Japanese Menus are English! Help is still Japanese. Japanese input, keyboard and handwriting recognition still work the same. Some items don't display well (normal English word wrapping is broken -- words break at the end of a line inside words.) Also some fields in Address Book and elsewhere seem to be partially hidden. Changing back should be easy. Either restore the backup you made to your CF card, or rename the wasja directory back to the ja dir. |
Hard to find function of the Zaurus: |
links: altavista's translation page (use to translate Japanese pages below) |
official Sharp support and ROM updates Sharp Space Town for Zaurus (in Japanese) Zaurus Support Station (in Japanese) Zaurus Support Station for SL-B500 (in Japanese) Sharp's SL-B500 ROM update (in Japanese) This link might change; you might need to navigate the above links to find the current ROM updater. The B500 ROM was 1.5JP as of January 2004. conics.net's English rewrite of Sharp's page on updating ROM Conics' page may not be current -- it was one year out-of-date as of January 2004. It is still useful for the flashing procedure, however. Compare this page with the original Sharp Japanese page for updates. Sharp USA's MyZaurus apps, accessories, etc. |
Other ROM's The lauded Sharp Kanji handwriting recognition app is not part of the alternative ROM's. Some of these ROM's work only on some Zaurus models as well. OpenZaurus thekompany's tkcROM -- improved Sharp ROM |
Pages On Converting the Zaurus from Japanese to English Japanese display on an English A300 / C700 Zaurus (from conics.net) This page did not fully work for me. Everything was fine till I got to the last procedures about removing fonts. The fonts to be removed were not the ones installed on my B500. The instructions for using the VI editor are also incomplete -- though I did eventually get it all done. Dave Lowndes's conversion method (A300) This page was the basis for the conics.net page above Collection of ways to get English support on the Zaurus also from conics |
Dictionaries and Other Japanese Apps and Fonts Jim Breen's Japanese Page Lots of info on using Japanese on various devices KanjiNirvana Learning Kanji on the Zaurus |
Sites to Download Zaurus Apps From Sharp/Handango Zaurus Software Index zaurussoft.com Zaurus Software all free and open. Opie not just apps -- another environment (no, I don't know what that means.) New Breed Software The author, Bill Kendrick, is a helpful guy. I've seen his informative posts about various Zaurus questions all over the net. thekompany (tkc) They have quite a broad "suite" of nice-looking Zaurus apps. Unfortunately, there are problems, especially with the PIM apps and Mail. The president of the company, Shawn Gordon, typically responds to the problems by: 1) ignoring customer complaints 2) shutting down the customer e-mail support list when complaints crescendo [private archive here -- open only to customers -- search for several days of no posts to find the shutdowns] and 3) deleting posts on the support forum (also open to customers only) when they cast thekompany in a bad light. Buyer beware. They don't give out refunds. In time, the specific software problems will be fixed, I imagine, but the attitude toward customer support may never change. UPDATE 2003/10/18 After complaining and publicizing the kompany's practices, I *did* get a refund for all my purchases. This is a mixed blessing -- I would have preferred an apology followed by better service and better working software. |
Linux and Programming Reference Sharp's "Zaurus's Basic Linux Commands" [another Zaurus command reference in downloadable format] Mastering the VI editor tutorial on using the VI editor -- useful for editing Zaurus configuration scripts |
FAQ's and Other Reference Zaurus User Group FAQ Zaurus Otaku Kurabu FAQ wbcd.org's Zaurus SL-C700's User Guide (comprehensive -- some applicability to B500 and other Zaurii) Sharp Zaurus Developer Site ZaurusZone a Zaurus portal ZaurusZone Wiki (Wiki is a community editable reference work) Zaurus Software Home not a catchy name, but thois site is good for an introduction to many elements of the Zaurus. |
Discussion Groups and Lists lists.zaurus.com Mailing Lists Zaurus Otaku Kurabbu, or "Zaurus Japanese Geek Club" Zaurus DevNet Forums Zaurus-ja "Zaurus-ja is a SourceForge.jp project that organizes some Zaurus improvement efforts in Japan." PDAStreet's Zaurus Message Boards |
Importers/Exporters for Zaurus conics.net Xtops.DE thekompany.com dynamism.com Dynamism is pretty stingy with support. Conics.net is much more open in telling you what has to be done to convert the menus. |
Accessories for B500 / 5600 (below is the only case designed for the B500/5600 I've found -- If I buy it, I will post a review here.) Leather Case for Zaurus SL-5600 (and SL-B500) Leather Case (same as above -- domestic Japanese B500 version) Extreme Limit full list of Zaurus cases, etc. from Extreme Limit (maker/dealer of cases above) |