No More PalmOS Instant Messaging?

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No More PalmOS Instant Messaging?

Posted by Cliff on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @04:20PM from the put-down-your-styluses dept.

cloudscout asks: "Palm users are slowly being cut off from Instant Messaging networks. In July of 2002, changes to the Yahoo! Messenger network effectively disabled the service's PalmOS client and an updated version was never released. Now the same fate has befallen ICQ users. Changes to the ICQ network have disabled the PalmOS client. This happened in September and since then, ICQ has responded to all bug reports with an irrelevant form letter. This leaves Palm users with AIM whose official client is a couple of years old, buggy and costs $20. Is there a future for Instant Messaging on Palm? One would think that the growing popularity of PalmOS SmartPhones would make this a priority."

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/obvious? by cheezus · 2004-01-13 16:23 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm too lazy to look, but I'd imagine that like every every other platform, there are 3rd party IM clients, perhaps even multi-protocol ones

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Open Source Opertunity by MBCook · 2004-01-13 16:30 · Score: 3, Insightful

Sounds like an opertunity for OSS to me. Why not have someone work on a (I assume scaled down) versoin of GAIM or something like that. Is there something preventing a good OSS client (like some problem with the networking APIs that are exposed) or is this just a lack of work (people have been putting up with official clients so there was no "want" for 3rd party software)?

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Re:Why? by DAldredge · 2004-01-13 16:35 · Score: 2, Informative

Dumbass. Try reading the last line of the post.

" One would think that the growing popularity of PalmOS SmartPhones would make this a priority."

Does that help?
Jabber by Bistronaut · 2004-01-13 16:40 · Score: 2, Interesting

There are Jabber clients for just about everything, and you can set up a server that has gateways to the other networks if you are technically inclined.
1. Re:Jabber by Evilive · 2004-01-13 18:09 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Chatopus is a jabber client written specifically for PalmOS.
  
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  -- Two in the pink, one in the sink.
AIM for Palm OS by btornado · 2004-01-13 16:50 · Score: 5, Informative

AIM for Palm OS is still available for free on AOL's UK site. I downloaded it today and installed it. It works, but it did not load my buddy list.
Re:MSN Messenger and Pocket PCs? by squiggleslash · 2004-01-13 16:55 · Score: 3, Insightful

I think it's exceedingly unlikely that Microsoft could bribe their biggest competitors in the IM field, especially AOL.
(Well, you asked)

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You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
future of palm os... by RevAaron · 2004-01-13 17:02 · Score: 4, Interesting

PalmOS is a bitch to code for. People while about Windows, because it isn't some POSIX clone, but they've not done coding for PalmOS. More important, they've not tried to port an app from a real OS like Unix, Windows CE, or Linux to PalmOS. PalmOS is a passable OS when you're dealing with 16 MHz m68k, but on much past that it's a sad excuse for an OS.

I'd be more worried about the current state of instant messaging on PalmOS vis-a-vis the lack of multi-tasking. PalmOS 6 will have some multitasking abilities, but those of us with any current model PalmOS device will be SOL, unless they're willing to buy a new device. I've recieved word for a few Palm employees that there is about a zilch chance of Palm releasing a POS 6 upgrade for *any* of their current models, even the Tungsten T3 or C, the two most powerful models.

I had out a Tungsten C for a (relatively short) while. Why even bother with built-in wifi when it's so crippled by the OS? If I opened up an IRC or IM app, I would be disconnected the second I wanted to do a calculation in EasyCalc or grab out a phone number in Addressbook. Then I'd have to go through the whole routine of reconnecting. Yay! Each time I would leave the Web Browser to get a URL out of a Memo or an email, I would lose the page loaded and have to re-negotiate the wifi-connection, reload the page (or multiple tabs if running NetFront), basically starting over again.

I took the Tungsten C back after a couple weeks. I have a Palm m130 on loan which I like more. It is a lot less powerful and has a smaller and crappier screen compared to the TC, but at least so much isn't going to such blatant waste. Perhaps it is better to use the Palm for what it does decently, and then use my Windows CE device (Sigmarion III- 800x480 screen, touch-typable screen) for the real work of doing development, browsing the web, irc, email via ssh, etc etc.

Anyone who says that PDAs don't need multitasking have never used their PDA for anything but the simplest of tasks. The device for which the term PDA was invented- the original Apple Newton- had multitasking before the first Palm Pilot was concieved, and has been capable of doing more than almost any PalmOS model. Perhaps Palm should have thought of a new acronym to call their device, a PDA lite? Expensive Electronic Organizer?

No, there isn't a port of GAIM to PalmOS. But there are a bunch of other IM clients for PalmOS. This story is pretty stupid, like a lot of so-called tech news story posted at various sites, born of ignorance and perpetuated by folks too lazy to do any research, and analyzed by folks who know nothing about the topic.

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Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
1. Re:future of palm os... by seann · 2004-01-13 19:53 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I think Palm OS's kerenel forbids multitasking because of licensing issues.
  
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  I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
2. Re:future of palm os... by MountainLogic · 2004-01-14 04:42 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I've been working woth the Palm OS for several year and I very much enjoy working with it. Metrowerks has a professional quality C/C++ environment for it and Palm has released a free (as in beer )simulator that allows for source level debugging. There are several frameworks and other tools that make the Palm OS specific issues a snap. It really is a joy to work wehere thing just work - No driver issues, no incompatabilities, etc. Palm programming does require a very different mindset from the desktop. The Palm OS is very lean, but that is how it should be. Bloated palms are an ugly thing indeed.
3. Re:future of palm os... by VisorGuy · 2004-01-14 04:58 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I use a Handspring Visor Prism with the VisorPhone module. It's running PalmOS 3.5 and I can and do maintain a GSM network connection when switching between apps. And when I switch back to my browser from another app, the last page I was looking at is still there and I don't have to reload.
  
  The only application I can think of where I lose a connection is upIRC.
  I asked the developer, Brian Smith, about this and he said that he couldn't keep it connected because of the nature of IRC networks. They apparently ping the clients to ensure that they are still connected and if the application is not active, it can't respond to the pings.
  
  I think the same is true of the IM networks.
  
  Since receiving Brian's response I have wondered if he could patch a trap in the OS and basically hook some tiny responder into the OS so that it could stay connected.
  
  The same can and has been done for the IM apps. It's called VeriChat.
  
  --
  This user account is inactive account replaced by the PDA
4. Re:future of palm os... by RevAaron · 2004-01-14 05:19 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Yes, PalmOS 5.2.x allows a very limited form of multitasking. As far as I know, it is limited to MP3 or other audio players. On these versions of PalmOS, there are two threads allowed- foreground and background. I don't know of any apps other than a couple audio players that use this capability, though I imagine a couple other apps use it.
  
  Sony added similar very limited multitasking to their versions of PalmOS, somewhere in the 4 series. I think they use the POS 5 API now, though.
  
  For it to be used to allow networking apps not to suck, PalmsSource or the licensee would have to rewrite the networking system to use it.
  
  --
  
  Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
5. Re:future of palm os... by RevAaron · 2004-01-14 05:53 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  You may rather have your iPod in your pocket, but most folks don't want to carry around a backpack full of devices. My PDA is already in my pocket- if I have a large storage card and a capable CPU, why shouldn't I listen to MP3s?
  
  I do a lot more multitasking than just the MP3 player and IM client. On PalmOS, those were what I ran into more often, but on WindowsCE, NewtonOS or Linux, three real OSes that run on PDAs, I do a lot more multitasking.
  
  No, I don't *need* that. But I don't need a PDA, either. Nor do I need a computer. Nor does your computer need multitasking. Why not just use DOS?
  
  --
  
  Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
6. Re:future of palm os... by Jonboy+X · 2004-01-15 20:35 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Wow, is there a moderation for "bitchy, bitter and resentful"? Is it a -1 or a +1?
  
  --
  
  "In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
You can use Yahoo!, ICQ, MSN & AOL chat by $exyNerdie · 2004-01-13 17:16 · Score: 3, Informative

Well, from what I know, VeriChat(TM) Unified Instant Messaging (IM) application for SmartPhones and other connected Palm devices such as the Tungsten C works very well.

It's key features (copied and pasted from the website) are:

- Unified messaging support for Yahoo!, ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger & MSN Instant Messenger
- Works with all PalmOS based SmartPhones (that have a data connection - circuit-switch data or high-speed data) including the Treo 180, Treo 270, Treo 300, Samsung I330, Kyocera 7135, Tungsten W, Samsung I500, VisorPhone, etc.
- Native support for the Palm Tungsten C and the Sony NX/NZ series with a WiFi card.
- Will also work with your Palm PDA if it has any type of Internet connection and a paging address. You can use a Wireless phone via IR (infra-red) or BlueTooth for the PDA's internet connectivity, i.e., a Tungsten-T or a Treo 90 coupled via blue-tooth with a Ericsson T68. You can also use your Palm coupled to a CDPD modem and your alphanumeric pager.
- Familiar Graphical icons for each protocol
Chat simultaneously with your buddies using one or any combination of IM protocols
- "Always On" on the messaging networks: Your buddies will see you as online even when you are not in the VeriChat(TM) application
- Specially customized for the Treo's Keyboard and Jog dial; you can avoid using the stylus altogether if you wish to
- Easy setup; the installation wizard will guide you through the configuration
- Many features especially for a mobile device: Buddy Pounce, Auto-reply messages, Custom Status messages and Pre-defined messages.

There is another application called Chatter that works on Palm OS 5 based Treo 600 called Chatter. It's website is here.
1. Re:You can use Yahoo!, ICQ, MSN & AOL chat by neglige · 2004-01-13 20:15 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  It sure looks nice, but... the price is, according to the page, $24.95 for the first year and then $19.95(!) for each following year. Not cheap. Furthermore, in the "Purchase/Service Agreement" it is clearly stated that some protocols may not be functional for some time or even for ever. Refunds are not mentioned, so if your favourite protocol is broken you are out of luck.
  
  And the author is not affiliated with Yahoo/AOL/Microsoft. So anytime protocol changes occur, the client won't work. Just like any other free client. Or like the official clients, only that here is a (slight?) chance they will be working again. Maybe. Someday.
  
  Disclaimer: unfortunately I don't have a Palm that can receive SMS (SMS as a bearer... smart, but possibly expensive), so actually all protocols may be working currently.
  
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Re:Open Source Opportunity by the_truk_stop · 2004-01-13 17:37 · Score: 3, Informative

why not have someone work on a ... version of Gaim
The Gaim developers have done a fantastic job of splitting the Gaim core from the user interface, which has already resulted in a PDA client for the QTopia environment called QPE-Gaim. But porting Gaim to PalmOS I assume is a much bigger task.
Jabber, and its derivatives. by Jorkapp · 2004-01-13 17:37 · Score: 3, Insightful

A quick google search for "open source palmos instant messenger" comes up with - you guessed it - Jabber. Unfortunately, Jabber has not officially developed a PalmOS client, so here's a few promising 3rd party clients based on Jabber.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/jabberpalm/

The Jabber Palm project. By the looks of it, it's a solid client, and only a few notable bugs to work out.

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http://www.chatopus.com/

Chatopus. A Jabber based client for PalmOS. Offers a good amount of features and support. Last version release was 01/12/04, so those -changes- in the networks shouldn't be a problem.

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1. Re:Jabber, and its derivatives. by OneBarG · 2004-01-13 18:06 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Unfortunately, Jabber has not officially developed a PalmOS client
  Remember, Jabber isn't just 1 company. No client is "more official" because Jabber, Inc. puts it out.
  
  --
  I'm starting to think this isn't the best place to promote my Anti-Sig Campaign.
Jabber, of course by Yenya · 2004-01-13 17:47 · Score: 2, Interesting

I use Jabber client on PalmOS without problems. There are at least two clients, one of which is open source. The specification of the protocol is open, and the system is distributed. Why use AIM or ICQ, when there is Jabber? :-)

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-Yenya
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Tungsten T maintains the connection between apps by Eustace+Tilley · 2004-01-13 19:53 · Score: 3, Informative
The Tungsten T lets you set the idle timeout on a network connection to 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, or never. You decide the trade off between battery time and reconnection hassle. If you set it to "never," you can switch between WebPro, VersaMail, WordSmith, PhotoBase, and so forth without having to re-login. If you set it to "1 minute," you can still switch, but you mustn't dillydally. Perhaps the Tungsten C lacks that preference setting, or perhaps the original poster never noticed.

The advantages to using a Tungsten T + cellphone combination over a single device like a Tungsten C include:
- it works whereever your cellphone can find GPRS, not just in WiFi HotSpots
- your cellphone battery handles the radio between you and the station (distant), your PDA battery handles the radio between your PDA and your cellphone (close)
Open source failure, nothing else by dspyder · 2004-01-14 08:21 · Score: 2, Interesting

There's plenty of open IM clients available for all number of platforms. Hell, there's gotta be like three in the top 25 list over at sourceforge.

Nobody has taken their own time to port one over to the Palm platform. Development on the Palm is pretty easy compared to a lot of platforms, I'm really surprised nobody has done it just for the sake of having it done. Why expect a commercial company to provide us something when we can build it ourselves? Aren't we Open Source, power-to-the-people, scree evil corporations that force feed us their closed clients?

I'm happily using Agile Messenger on my SymbianOS cellphone. Beats the hell out of 10 cent per SMS messages. I would even pay for the software if they weren't giving it out for free! As soon as they come out with a WiFi and GPRS Palm for under a million dollars, and somebody matches that with a reasonable cell data plan, then I'll switch back.

--D

Score: +1 Troll, but absolutely correct