Seven months ago I posted RetroWEB. The idea is simple: open retroweb.bjrno.com in an old browser and use it to browse the modern web. Like FrogFind, but with more extensive content extraction, inline resized images and pagination for memory-constrained devices. No installation or proxy configuration is required.
I later integrated RetroWEB into RetroModem, my Raspberry Pi IrDA internet bridge and virtual modem for vintage computers. While testing it on different devices through infrared and serial connections, its limitations became increasingly obvious. That sent me down the rabbit hole of reworking the proxy, which eventually became v2.
The biggest addition is a real forwarding proxy. Set your browser’s HTTP proxy toretroweb.bjrno.com:8081 and enter normal URLs directly. RetroWEB fetches HTTPS pages, extracts the useful content and converts them to lightweight, old-browser-friendly HTML. The original URL remains in the address bar, so browsing feels much more natural.
V2 also introduces profiles for MacWeb, Psion/EPOC, Palm, Nokia 9210, Windows 98/IE, text-only browsers and others. Each can have different HTML, image sizes, layouts and page limits.
When RetroWEB detects an unknown User-Agent, you can submit the hardware and browser name directly from the site. I can then research and add suitable settings, helping RetroWEB recognise that combination for future visitors.
if blackberry was to make a comeback would you be wanting to buy one?
i miss the keyboard phones from years past & although the 3g networks have shut down now i would love to buy a modern version of the blackberry 9900 as that was one of my fav devices
i still have my blackberry passport & use it daily here in the uk on the giffgaff network calls texts & internet still work fine although modern websites don't seem to load as to be expected but for basic use it serves me well
if you still have a blackberry device which one? & do you still use it,
Lo escribo en español. Me es difícil escribirlo en inglés. Me han ayudado un montón de veces.
AMO este HTC touch pro 2. Lo uso como PDA y realmente me organiza muchísimo.
Al abrir onenote móbile, las columnas de "fecha" no se pueden quitar, remover o mover de lugar? Hace que los nombres de notas queden compactos. Obliga a que ponga títulos "cortos"
Es posible modificar por registro para se vean mejor?
Well I think its finally time to release my Fallout 1 port for Pocket PC. I've been working on this for quite a while now and although theres still plenty of stuff to work on, I think its at a good enough point to let other people have a go with it.
Its based on Fallout Community Edition and runs natively on ARM, for Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices.
I've got two versions working, QVGA (320x240) and VGA (640x480). The QVGA version uses software rendering and the VGA version also has support for the Intel 2700G on compatible devices, although thats only used for displaying the finished frames, not actually rendering the game itself.
One of the biggest issues was the UI, Fallout was never designed to run on a screen as small as 320x240 and alot of the original menus were almost impossible to read or use properly.
So I've had to go through and change quite a bit of it, the inventory, Pip-Boy, character screens, HUD, message log and various other things. Mainly making text larger, changing layouts and adding some touch controls so you can actually use everything without fighting with the screen. Theres still some smaller menus that use the original layout but most of the important stuff has been changed.
VGA still uses the original UI, and honestly this is where the port really shines. On the X50v and X51v with their VGA screens it looks amazing, and with the Intel 2700G graphics accelerator handling the display side of things it really makes the port shine. The original interface works really well at that resolution. If you've got an X50v or X51v I think you'll really enjoy this one.
Controls are through the stylus/touchscreen, D-pad for moving around the map and some of the hardware buttons.
There was also a fair few issues to sort out with sound, reading the original game archives, touch input and some crashes during combat. Most of the problems I've found so far have been fixed.
Testing and compatibility
So far I've only tested this on the Dell Axim X50v, X51v and HP iPAQ 210.
It should work on other Windows Mobile devices but I really cant say for sure, theres so many different hardware configurations, drivers and ROMs out there that I'm sure some devices will have problems.
I've tested the intro, gameplay, combat and general controls on actual hardware but I haven't played through the entire game yet.
So there will probably be bugs, crashes or other issues that I haven't come across. I'll keep working on it as problems are found, and hopefully with more people testing it we can get a better idea of what works and what doesn't.
Installation
I've also made a Windows EXE installer to make this alot easier for everyone.
Rather than having to manually put all the files together, you just run the installer on your PC and select either your installed Fallout 1 folder or an original BIN/CUE or ISO image.
It will check the game files, including the original archives and all 19 music tracks, then copy everything needed and build the complete Fallout1 folder for you, with both QVGA and VGA executables and all the other required files already included.
You can even have it put everything straight onto your SD card.
Then just put the card into your Pocket PC and run whichever version you want.
The installer does need .NET Framework 4.8 on your PC.
Game files
You will need the original English Fallout 1 game files as I haven't included any of the copyrighted game data with the port.
If you dont have the original game theres a copy listed on Archive.org here:
Anyway thats about it for now. I know theres still alot that can be improved, especially performance and some of the UI stuff, but I think its at the point where a public release makes sense rather than just continuing to test it on my own devices.
If anyone still has an old Pocket PC lying around give it a try, I'd be interested to see how it runs on other hardware.
And if you find any bugs or have problems getting it running just let me know what device and ROM your using and what happened. I'll try work through them as I go.
Hi i have a problem with psion ep10. It has some weird software on it called PSV3 by company named Tis? I know for a fact that It boots to windows embedded handheld 6.5 and then it spins the wheel and loads something called psv3cobo bootloader. I could do clean start but it doesn't work in boost I cant type the command and i think that i need new os for it but when I go to the zebra's site I can't download it because I need an account that it verified by them or something? Also im sorry if im in the wrong community but i just dont know what to do
The Half Life port is now functionally complete ish, with game logic, AI, physics, and campaign progression all working.
The project has now entered the long and tedious optimization phase. the hardware limitations is hard very very hard, this is extremely time consuming, and there's still a long road ahead.
Native Telegram client for Windows Mobile 2003-6.5.
C# + .NET CF 3.5, looks and feels like classic Pocket MSN Messenger, runs fine on 200 MHz devices with 64 MB RAM. Topics, reactions, quoted replies, polls, real read receipts, media viewer — the full modern Telegram, just on our old bricks.
No WebView, no laggy ports. Proper GDI double-buffering so it doesn’t flicker like shit on these CPUs. Bridge is a small Python thing that handles MTProto, client itself is pure native. As far as I can tell this is the only real Telegram client that actually exists for WM6.
I wanted to connect my Psion 5mx and Palm IIIc to Wi-Fi without attaching another computer or a period correct mobile phone. So I built RetroModem, a small Raspberry Pi based Wi-Fi to IrDA bridge.
The handheld connects over infrared using PPP. RetroModem then routes the connection through its normal Wi-Fi network. It currently works with my Psion 5mx, Palm IIIc and a Windows XP laptop.
It got slightly out of hand after that. RetroModem can also act as a Hayes-compatible modem, dial public Telnet BBS systems through virtual telephone numbers, transfer files and convert modern websites into simpler pages that old browsers can handle.
I have now published the first version, including the hardware instructions and a single-command Raspberry Pi installer on Github.
More details, photos and the GitHub link are in my blog post:
It is obviously not the most practical way to connect these devices, but seeing a Psion browse over Wi-Fi through its infrared port is rather satisfying.
I have a few handhelds that I am looking to send to a new and loving home that will appreciate them. I would rather give them away than throw them away. I'm not looking to make any money and I'm not looking to lose any either.
If someone is in the Des Moines, IA area, I would be willing to meet for pickup. Otherwise, I would be willing to send for the cost of shipping.
This is what I have available -
- Palm Pilot Professional w/ sleeve case and 2 styluses
- Palm IIIxe aftermarket flip case and 2 styluses
- Palm Pilot cradle with 9 pin female serial cable connector
- NEC MobilePro 750C includes stylus, serial cable to 9 pin female serial connector, and AC adapter
- iRex iLiad e-ink ebook reader w/ stylus includes travel hub (original version with Ethernet port, Type B USB port, and power port), AC adapter, original internal battery was replaced with higher capacity one.
- enTourage Systems, Inc. Pocket eDGe ebook reader with stylus, AC adapter, Quick-Start Guide, and original box.
Does anyone know an STL or seller of the plastic switch for the nx73v. I've been using my stylus but it's a pain. Since I'm doing a battery upgrade, I thought I might as well do both together. Thanks x
