Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

PalmSource Talks About PalmOS 6.0

Posted by timothy on from the bits-n-whistles dept.

stevejsmith writes "The Register has released an article regarding PalmSource speaking about their next OS, PalmOS 6.0. The Register says, 'Version 6.0 will be as dramatic a change for the platform as OS X was for Apple, or NT was for Microsoft...', that it will actually include some source code of BeOS, and that will support Microsoft's .NET platform, among other things."

5 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. So does this... by strateego · · Score: 0, Interesting

    So does this mean that my palm will useful for once. All that my palm does now is store address, and I don't have enough address to make this thing useful. I would like to see if this lives up to all the hype, or if it will be another Lindows.

    --
    Got Extra Money?
    1. Re:So does this... by pediddle · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Maybe that's all your Palm does, but mine keeps my schedule, composes documents and email, balances my checkbook, keeps track of passwords (encrypted), and, most importantly, plays all sorts of games.

      Lindows has been around for, how long? The hype for Lindows, and other products that don't live up to it, won't last, and such products go away over time. Palm has proven itself by the large number of happy users, even when more "flashy" alternatives are available (WinCE, PocketPC, Clie, iPaq, etc.). Palm 6.0, and for that matter Palm 5.0 (which has not yet been released), are evolutionary.

      If all you can think to put on your Palm is addresses, then maybe it's just something that isn't right for your lifestyle. There isn't a whole lot more truly practical things that any Palm-type device will ever be able to do, although maybe people in your situation will be tempted by multimedia offerings ("Ooh, look, I've got this pretty picture on my little 3-inch screen"). I suppose that the goals of all future Palm releases will mainly center around attracting users such as yourself, who need a look-at-this-cool-gadget-that-plays-songs excuse to justify the cost.

      My point is, if you don't think Palm has already lived up to the hype, then there probably won't be a lot more in the way of everyday, practical, dayplanner-replacement features coming. Maybe you'd be better off with a paper notebook, a gameboy, and a cell phone :-)

  2. PalmOS 6 = good by itzdandy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am looking forward to seeing/getting one of the new Palms with OS6. Handspring has plans for an XScale 600Mhz machine/ATI imageon and 128MB memory for launch with PalmOS6. I currently have a Toshivae740 which i like but WinCE is not my idea of a efficient OS, typical microsoft software, tries to be everything to everyone right out of the box. I like the idea of a "modular" palm6 so i can kill all the crap i dont like without the OS dieing. example=WinCE. If you delete the PocketExcel folder, the damn thing wont boot!

    Palm will most likely have optimized builds for different chips used. the new ARM should have its own build, the old ARM, XScale, etc.

    i have heard rumors that palm6 will also be using by sony in some upcomming set top boxes with 'tivo'like features, and with the BeOS technology we should get a nice smooth and quick interface with great media abilities.

  3. OSX XP? by octane097 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I love how they say "as innovative as OSX to the Mac and NT to the PC" insinuating the "innovation" for Microsoft was when NT came out years ago

  4. Re:Palm OS 6 - too little, too late? by twalk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Oh yes, and the Tungstun slidely thing is silly. I'm going to have to spend my entire time opening and retracting it as
    I use grafitti a lot - which means it'll break quickly."

    Reportedly, this was tested for 100,000 open/close cycles. That doesn't sound fragile to me.

    "32 meg is peanuts!"

    That's why you have SD cards. 1G ones will be coming out soon.