Palm CEO Ed Colligan just pulled the plug on Palm OS, destroying the hopes and dreams of millions of Palm lovers around the world. As a former Palm programmer, let me tell you that this news saddens yet cheers me: Palm OS is in a better place now.
Colligan also mentions that the Pre will have an app store and Palm will have no control over the content. The Pre will hit other carriers in 2010 and that they’re not too worried about Apple’s patents (famous last words.) Luckily, Palm has 1500 patents up its sleeve and sees little problem in implementing multi-touch in the new OS.
The reason you do that is to have a defensive position. It’s like two little porcupines going around, and you don’t want to touch each other because you might get stung. You peacefully coexist and everything’s OK and you keep working together. We’re very respectful about people’s intellectual property, we believe we’re huge innovators and have been for a lot of years and that this product has an enormous number of innovations in it. If something does happen there, we do have the portfolio, we think to defend ourselves and to be successful doing that. But nothing’s happened to date, so we’re really just focused on getting the product out the door.
How will you mourn the passing of Palm OS tonight? I’m pouring a little out for my Palm V.
RIP.
“Palm will have no control over the content”
Hooray for the porn, torrent and gambling apps.
But not for viruses and trojans
Thank god its finally over.
Nice stock photo
Palm is in trouble from the moment they changed their name from Palm Pilot to Palm.
Sad to hear that, as my Palm 515C was a great little gadget that still works, though I haven’t used it in years. Palm can be proud of of it. I am happy to see the new OS and the Pre, and hope they give Apple a good run for their money so Apple doesn’t get complacent (and maybe finally be spurred to give us iPhone users cut and paste and flash on the browser). Competition is good.
I don’t get it, why not just open source it?
Anjali Sen
It may contain third-party code, or depend on patents licensed by Palm. Or it may just be too expensive: taking a closed-source project open-source takes time, money, and lawyering.
Palm doesn’t own the OS. They license it from Access.
It’s not their place to open source it.
Palm Pilot was my first introduction to handheld technology. It was great in the beginning product. Too bad they just haven’t kept up.
Technically, Palm doesn’t control the fate of “Palm OS,” only the fate of it tied to that name.
In practice, though, I don’t see anyone else jumping out from behind bushes to license it.
dead?
Palm OS isn’t dead – it is actively being supported by ACCESS. its just that there will be no more devices withit as the core operating system anymore; but via a commercial application known as StyleTap and ACCESS’s own garnet emulation layer which it has released on multiple platforms.
>> http://www.styletap.com/
StyleTap(R) Platform allows you to run applications (and games) originally written for Palm OS handhelds on devices running
* Windows Mobile Pocket PC
* Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone
* Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1
* Symbian OS – S60 3rd Edition
* Symbian OS – S60 5th Edition
* Symbian OS – UIQ3.0
>> http://www.access-company.com/products/gvm/
Garnet VM enables Nokia Nseries users to run thousands of Garnet OS (formerly Palm OS(R)) applications. Garnet VM supports some of the most popular applications in the mobile market.
* Nokia Internet Tablet 2006,2007,2008 (N770, N800, N810)
you’ll also see ACCESS is promoting a new virtual layer known as “Garnet VM” – which, parties like Palm can license to include in any future operating systems which they are using.
Do you really think the Palm Pre will ship without a Palm OS emulation layer? It is feasible – so why rule it out. Maybe I’ll be the one saying “I told you so” in the future – but there are far too many quality applications and services available on Palm OS exclusively.
I think it is time for people to check the facts before posting propaganda like this.
// Aaron Ardiri
The “OS 9″ of PDAs will be missed.
Exactly. And as with OS 9, there are some really good, simple features and UI that will be lost. But WebOS is the future.
I am hoping that some of the really reliable and user friendly stuff remains a priority for Palm.
Ahh! I love OS 9!
It’s about time…this has been a slow death. I suspect others are soon to follow. It’ll end up being Google/Android, BlackBerry, Apple and maaaybe Microsoft. Arguably, still crowded.
Follow http://www.twitter.com/youpolls
I was a Palm power user for years until my T2 finally gave up the ghost this past year. I broke down and got an itouch simply because I am now involved in game development. The Palm platform served me very well and will be missed. Like the others have said RIP.
@johnflurry
Ironic this is the day I am switching to a G1
Why are you calling a non living object/creation she ?
Serious? Boats, planes, trucks, farm machinery, and countless other “things” are most often referred to as “she.” As in, “She’s a fine ship, ain’t she?”
Guess I should go to staples and buy all of the Tungstens and Palm Zires they have in stock. Gotta have those on hand so I can put them on eBay in 10 years for 25 Thousand bucks
So… are they providing a method to transfer your data from the Palm OS to the Pre or other phones (iPhone, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, etc.).
Are you serious? There is no one universal file format… I would suggest Googling: GoogleSync or MobileMe. And if you need to transfer data to a BlackBerry, clearly you’re not an enterprise user, which means a different phone would better fit your needs. :(
The Treo (even minus internet access) was the best phone I’ve ever owned, including the BBCurve I have now.
RIP
Try using it today, and tell us the same thing.
I STILL have the treo 680. I love it. No other place can you find so many apps for so little money. That apple virtual keyboard is not the same. Also good to know the PRE will be on other carriers by next year (I’m ATT). Just need to make sure I don’t drop kick my existing treo before then.
One problem with his analogy is that porcupines don’t sting.
so I guess I’m lucky my handspring visor still works?
Does this mean that they’ll finally open source BeOS?
would love to get BeOS running on a modern Mac. ;)
Sad day, indeed. I was a very early adopter (Still have my original Palm Pro; still works, too.) Last time I upgraded phones I settled for the Treo 680 because it was the newest Treo still running PalmOS.
Good to hear the Pre will be on other carriers next year. I’m still hoping someone jailbreaks it for ATT. I’ll jump to it in a heartbeat. Was thinking I’d have to switch to iPhone, but I can hold out for a year…
–Ax
The Palm OS was (and still is) a wonderful operating system. I salute all of the hardworking engineers who made it possible over the years.
I’ve gotten so much use out of Treos running Palm OS over the years.
Can’t wait for the Pre!
So what OS will they be using next?
You’re kidding, right?
Mostly he’s trying to up his website’s google rankings with a name like that. :P
im looking forward to the pre. Iphone with a keyboard is a huge plus for me.
Palm Pilot 5000 for sale – make offer
Yeah, I started with the Handspring too and, as a developer interested in writing third party apps for it, signed the license agreements from Palm and got the SDK. It was free, other than some snail mail paperwork. I was so convinced that it would be a success in 1999 that I invested in Palm. I didn’t sell any apps…
Back in August 2008 I signed up for the Apple Developer Connection, paid my $99, fill in some online paperwork that didn’t pass their scrutiny until I called them and straightened it out. Sold an app, at least i made back my enrollment fee and a few cases of beer for the boys in the office…
Its amazes me how things come around, I’m happy my Handspring is dead now, I can finally bury it in a time box for my children to wonder at.
Great! Now can Nokia please do the same with Symbian?
Symbian? Nokia makes those?
Palm OS is dead LONG LIVE Palm Pre.
Common fellows hip hip HURAY.
A new dawn has risen and old man palm gives his want to the new carrier palm pre webos as he blows out his last breath of cycles he warns him to be innovative at all time give people the magic you posses and be always on the look out for other mobile operating systems their magic have a profound mastery trembling the earth be witty and eave to be better not first.
It did what the Newton could not and got killed by what the iPhone could. Vicious.
It is worth noting that, although the last PalmOS licensee is now history, that does not spell the end of PalmOS development. Access provides a PalmOS emulator called the Garnet Virtual Machine. It is currently available for Access Linux Platform and Nokia MIDs.
(Granted, anyone designing new software for Garnet is probably throwing money into the wrong hole in the ground.)
Pré should be running on Android instead… don’t you think?
I’m quite happy with my what my Centro offers, but I think Android would give it more flexibility (and fun) with Apps.
What advantage does Android have over Nova? If you watched Palm’s keynote from CES, Matias Duarte (I think it was) mentioned how Palm devs can tap right into the hardware to access information needed for apps. Plus, it’s Linux based. I would check out the Palm dev forums before making conclusive statements. – just saying. :)
“It did what the Newton could not and got killed by what the iPhone could. Vicious.”
Not quite…it was smaller & cheaper.
“Palm will have no control over the content.”
To me it sounded like Palm WOULD control the contents of their own store, but they would allow downloads from other internet sites or from your computer over usb.
Has anyone heard what their plan is to migrate over to the Pre all of the PIM address/calendar/memo data from the Treos?
What’s all the crying about? I have a Treo 755p and it does all I want and more. Today!
Long-time Palm user
I am actually confused as to why people are muddling over details. Wait till it’s released before nit-picking, people. Jeez. And the new platform is Nova NOT Pre!!
I have been a Palm user since I could last remember. Back since 2002 or so. Can’t recall when I got my first Palm being the Zire 72. I loved that thing, I have downgrade from there ever since it died on me. I currently have a Tungsten C in great condition and I was about to stop using it, until the news of Palm OS has official gone to a better place. Now, I would feel bad to abandon this Palm.
I just wish this didn’t happen, I am going to end up in the hands of Microsoft or some other company for my PDA needs. I still dread the idea of getting a Windows Mobile PDA.
RIP Palm, we will all miss you greatly!
Palm OS, not doubt an outdated operating system.
But in their golden age, it is very good product, faster than M$, better design. Some of iPhone design is followed Palm.
Again, it’s the ecosystem failed to help Palm OS grow.
I still prefer my palm visor to my Blackberry Curve. I find that the palm is much easier to make sales call notes & work in the calendar than
in the Blackberry. I have had 3 palm visors over about 10 years , which I end up replacing when I drop them & crack the screen. I have had my Blackberry curve for less than 6 months & I already
have problems with the trackball. I guess that I find the Palem easeir to use because I have large hands & it it much easier & faster for me to use the stylus on the palm than it is to to try to type in the the blackberry’s tiny keybord. I guess I better go on ebay & buy a couple more visors to hold me over for a few more years.
Even though I’m a little old school and was hoping Palm would develop a masterful OS, maybe it’s for the better. They already have their hands full maintaining, marketing, and building the pre. Plus you don’t have to wait to see if the pre OS is secure enough for commercial purposes etc., I’d have to wait for verification on a mainstream security site like justaskgemalto before using one at my firm with an unproven OS.
There is a good article on the Palm situation on this guy’s blog: http://amccright.blogspot.com/2009/01/palm-tells-current-customers-to-get.html
Sad, but true.
I’m going to miss my Palm when it finally dies.
I’m still carrying a Treo along with my iPhone. If the iPhone had infrared and I could open up Supra eKey lockboxes for real estate, I’d have already dumped my Palm.
I have to say its very depressing- I just returned an iPhone because it didn’t do so many things my 680 does- a week view, global search, text edit import and export, to-do sync, etc etc…can’t some Palm programmer get it going and create these apps for iPhone now that its officially dead?
Palm OS isn’t dead for me :). I’m collecting a collection of Palm IIIxe devices from ebay and learning how to repair electronics.
Planning to retire with them.. and be buried with them.