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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."

25 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Swappable... by Bobulusman · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Version 6.0 will feature granular, application-level security and pluggable I/O interfaces. Which means that licensees can swap out the Graffiti input mechanism for an alternative,
    That would be welcome upgrade. I know a lot of people dislike it.

    While I like the graffiti on my Visor Deluxe, it would nice if someone could design an interface with all the graffiti symbols that could 'learn' what I mean, the way a speak recognition program does. I have sloppy writing and it's takes me too long to enter in all my assignments.
    --
    Cogito ergo sum in Slashdot.
    1. Re:Swappable... by Phouk · · Score: 4, Informative

      TealScript is a hack that already does what you want, have a look at http://www.tealpoint.com/software.htm

      --
      Stupidity is mis-underestimated.
    2. Re:Swappable... by MBoffin · · Score: 3, Informative

      You should check out NewPen. It's an app that turns your screen area into the graffiti pad. That in itself is not so useful. What is useful is that it actually traces behind your stylus so you can see what you are writing. It also draws the big dot where you started, so you can see the flow. My graffiti handwriting improved 10x just from this app alone, mainly because I can actually see what I'm writing.

      I thought this would be a tough app to live with, but it was thought out well. Go ahead and try it to see what I mean.

      The other option is to get a Sony Clie that has the software-drawn graffiti area. Those models feature the draw-behind by default. Very smart, but then again, Sony has always made cool stuff cooler.

    3. Re:Swappable... by abischof · · Score: 2

      You can download NewPen here.

      --

      Alex Bischoff
      HTML/CSS coder for hire

  2. hacks by ramzak2k · · Score: 3, Insightful

    its nice to read the lines

    Version 6.0 will be as dramatic a change for the platform as OS X was for Apple, or NT was for Microsoft, and represents the culmination of work from the former Be team Palm acquired last year.

    get a bunch of talented developers, innovations will follow.

    On the other hand, i am interested to know if 6.0 would have any backward compatibility & run the apps i currently have(NT/OS X had little to no support for apps running on previous versions)

    --

    Siggy Say, Siggy Do
    1. Re:hacks by cscx · · Score: 2

      (NT/OS X had little to no support for apps running on previous versions)

      You're gonna have to wait a few years for PalmOS XP to be released.

    2. Re:hacks by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 2

      NT/OS X had little to no support for apps running on previous versions

      I can't speak for NT-- I never used a PC before Windows 2000-- but OS X has almost complete support for running legacy applications. Applications that comply with the Carbon API spec-- a subset of the original Macintosh Toolbox APIs-- run natively in OS X. Applications that don't, run in the Classic virtual machine. While compatibility with Classic is not total, the number of programs that won't run is very, very small. In fact, I have a couple of small programs on my Mac that date back to the System 7 days; they're not even PowerPC binaries; they were compiled on a Motorola 68030 back in 1991 or so. They run very well under the Classic VM on my 2002-model Power Mac G4. Pretty fast, too. ;-)

      --

      I write in my journal
    3. Re:hacks by tswinzig · · Score: 2
      get a bunch of talented developers, innovations will follow.

      The innovations already happened at Be, that's why they acquired that company and employees. They are competent engineers with a background in a multimedia-oriented, modern OS. Sounds like a good plan to me.

      On the other hand, i am interested to know if 6.0 would have any backward compatibility & run the apps i currently have

      If you'd read the article past the second sentence, you'd have seen this:

      Mace stressed the diversity of the potential market for PalmOS, so the developers are covering as many bases as possible. Meanwhile older applications will run alongside the new applications written to the new APIs:-

      "The emulation layer will be around for a long time," Mace told us. "OS 4.0 and 5.0 will co-exist."
      --

      "And like that ... he's gone."
  3. 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.

  4. Quite Advanced by reitoei1971 · · Score: 2

    At what point is this no longer a palm? Or will the next generation simply create a new paradigm for "palm"; the near actualization of the ultra slim pc idea that failed?

  5. no be source by millette · · Score: 3, Informative
    Steve Sakoman, the team's former leader at Be Inc, and now PalmSource's "chief products officer" has denied that Be code would be incorporated into the new OS. More likely, we suspect, the new OS will inherit some algorithms and architecture from BeOS.
    See, it says right there, _no_ be code in there. But who reads the articles, right?
    1. Re:no be source by be-fan · · Score: 3, Informative

      This article appeared in The Register, and another guy at Palm said that there *was* BeOS code in there. So its a matter of debate.

      --
      A deep unwavering belief is a sure sign you're missing something...
  6. 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 :-)

  7. Re:Get some PRIORITIES! by Tsar · · Score: 4, Funny

    "[long list of world's evils, tragedies, scandals & crises], and you people have the gall to be discussing [tech-related news item]????"

    You forgot to mention that Steven King died again today.

    --
    "They've got a cave troll!" -- Boromir

  8. Re:Low-latency audio, anyone? by torpor · · Score: 2

    You'd have a lot more good stuff on your home page if you learned that 'truly portable mini-studios' have been around for years.

    What you want is a fancy one that also acts as an address book.

    --
    ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  9. Re:OSX XP? by Twirlip+of+the+Mists · · Score: 2

    Isn't it true, though? OS X is as different from OS 9 as Windows NT was from Windows 3.whateveritwas. Windows 2000 and XP, however, have really only been incremental improvements on the original NT release. In fact, weren't Windows 2000 and XP referred to internally as NT 5.0 and NT 5.1, respectively? (I don't know that to be true, but I've heard it repeated often enough I'm starting to think it might be.)

    --

    I write in my journal
  10. Palm OS 6 - too little, too late? by Mr_Silver · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The biggest problem I can see for Palm is that the world and his dog is expecting what OS 6 will deliver today.

    By the time they actually get around to delivering it, the goalposts will have changed (by the likes of Symbian and Microsoft) and Palm will have to play catch up again.

    On a side note, releasing the Tungstun W (phone one) with OS 4 was a monumentally stupid thing to do. If they're going to commit to OS 5, then they should do immediately - not release two new phones with one running the old OS.

    Go to OS 5. Don't look back. Encourage developers to code for OS 5, encourage users who want the power to upgrade. If they're going to release a trickle of OS 4 PDA's then developers will just stick to OS 4.

    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. We need to see sexy and desirable PDA's come onto the market to persuade people to upgrade. This one doesn't (maybe Sony will) ... and for god's sake, even with the low memory requirements of apps, 32 meg is peanuts! Your apps may be smaller than PPC's, but the size of your data is going to be the same.

    On a final note, I wonder if OS 6 will actually appear. OS 5 could be make-or-break for Palm. If there is no interest (after all, it doesn't *look* any different and thats what Joe Blow will see) then it'll hurt them very very badly.

    --
    Avantslash - View Slashdot cleanly on your mobile phone.
    1. Re:Palm OS 6 - too little, too late? by Mac+Degger · · Score: 3, Insightful

      32 meg is peanuts on a wince machine, but not on a palm. Not only is the footprint for programs smaller, but I still run everything I need (graphing, programmable calculators; doc editor; gameboy emulator; numerous other games; excel compatible spreadsheets; about 6 books; internet browser; phone apps; datebook; agenda) quite comfortably on the 8 megs on my IIIc.

      For more storage, well, that's what the removable storage is for.

      Plus you need to remember that a PDA is NOT a laptop, and isn't meant to replace one.

      And finaly, what I've been waiting for to replace my IIIc is a palmOS, highrez colour screen, removable strorage, wireless (wifi or bluetooth), integrated mobile phone PDA. Looks like Palm is the one to deliver...Kyocera and Treo just didn't get it.

      --
      -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
    2. 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.

    3. Re:Palm OS 6 - too little, too late? by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 2

      " By the time they actually get around to delivering it, the goalposts will have changed (by the likes of Symbian and Microsoft) and Palm will have to play catch up again."

      Palm is trying to replace the Sybian?
      I guess some women used their real palm for that before, Might as well make the Palm(tm) do it to :x

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
    4. Re:Palm OS 6 - too little, too late? by tswinzig · · Score: 2

      The biggest problem I can see for Palm is that the world and his dog is expecting what OS 6 will deliver today.

      By the time they actually get around to delivering it, the goalposts will have changed (by the likes of Symbian and Microsoft) and Palm will have to play catch up again.

      That's what they said about Netscape vs. Microsoft. Netscape can never catch up to Microsoft's browser quality and feature-set.

      Now with Mozilla 1.2, who is behind, in terms of the features and innovation on the browser front?

      Where there's a will, there's a way.

      --

      "And like that ... he's gone."
    5. Re:Palm OS 6 - too little, too late? by stickyc · · Score: 2
      On a side note, releasing the Tungsten W (phone one) with OS 4 was a monumentally stupid thing to do. If they're going to commit to OS 5, then they should do immediately

      Palm OS5 requires an ARM processor. I would think that fitting ARM into the W would add another $50 to the internal cost-of-goods, not to mention development costs.

      Given the market's sensitivity to price points right now (especially for items that are perceived as overpriced in the first place), the number of people who will vocalize displeasure about the W not having OS5 is relatively insignificant compared to the number of people that will howl at it's being ~$75-$100 more expensive.

  11. new and improved by trb · · Score: 3, Insightful
    If they want to improve the PDA, they should concentrate on the following:
    • easier to read display
    • longer battery life
    • more reliable
    • cheaper
    • faster
    • lighter/thinner
    • more memory
  12. All right... by jelle · · Score: 3, Funny

    "and that will support Microsoft's .NET platform, among other things."

    All right... PalmOS 5 it is... (no that is not a typo).

    --
    --- Hindsight is 20/20, but walking backwards is not the answer.
  13. PalmOS on Win PocketPC hardware by GreenKiwi · · Score: 2

    What would be really awesome is if Palm's new OS wan installable on Windows PocketPC hardware. I'd pay $50-100 to be able to run palm os 6.0 on an iPaq or Tosh 740 with built-in 802.11b.

    It would be even cooler if they could manage to get it to dual boot. But I'd settle for one or the other. This would be great for people who's companies insist that they buy WinCE devices. They could just buy them and then buy PalmOS for it.