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Palm's webOS Root Image Leaks Out
Kohenkatz writes "As noted in PreCentral.net's forums, the 'webOS Reset Doctor' has been leaked. It includes the webOS root image. From the article: 'Code-inclined individuals on the PreCentral forums have already cracked open the ROM and are getting an unfettered glimpse at the Palm's new platform, which, for the layman, means it should open the doors for some crazy Pre hacking and possibly hint, by way of unfinished / unused code, at what's to come for the platform — and, if we're really lucky, maybe someone will be able to look at this and move us one step closer to an unlocked Pre that could jump onto Verizon's network. Amusingly, you also get to see all the comments left by the devs in the code, guaranteeing a few good chuckles from others who can relate.'"
People have already uncovered icons for MSN and AOL, as well as references to the Palm Eos, a rumored successor to the Centro line.
dev mode enabled using the konami code
turn up the jukebox and tell me a lie
The benefits of a real smartphone with the convenience of a monopoly provider doesn't quite do it for me.
I was trying for Pre "first post!", but my existential metaphysical co-processor had a meltdown.
If we're really lucky, maybe someone will be able to look at this and move us one step closer to an unlocked Pre that could jump onto Verizon's network.
I thought people would eventually learn this after all the discussion of "why can't I move my iPhone to Verizon?" In the US, Verizon and Sprint use CDMA. Each phone has to be developed for each specific network. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, the worldwide standard where phones can be "unlocked" and moved to other networks (as long as the phone support the frequencies used by those networks). So don't hold your breath waiting for a Verizon Pre.
"95% of all Slashdot
I wonder if this will help Apple launch a legal assault regarding the Pre's ability to masquerade as an iPod?
If your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.
What does the phone's rom have to do with this? I've unlocked sprint treos for verizon. You just have to reprogram the prl on the cdma chip. No firmware/OS modification involved. Has something drastically changed, or does the op just not understand?
Really? How many people could relate to finding just one comment in an assembly language module?
MOV 1750 # RIP JSB
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
[...] which, for the layman, means [...]
A layman wouldn't know what anything on this website would mean, much less TFA.
The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
Cracking open the ROM is nifty and all (although it might cause issues for you later if you want to develop on the platform), but what I still want to know is where are the Palm Pre Linux kernel sources?.
I've looked all over the Palm sites and even Googled for it, but I haven't come up with anything but speculation. I can't believe that they're using a prebuilt kernel from TI, so what gives?
coding is life
People have already uncovered icons for MSN and AOL
Where's the DMCA crew when you need them?
The title and the summary of this article aren't in total agreement (one says Reset Doctor, other says root image).
The Reset Doctor wasn't leaked, its available on Palm's site: http://kb.palm.com/wps/portal/kb/common/article/32759_en.html
The WebOS root image is what I would consider being leaked.
I love that it has a Linux based operating system. The hardware looks kinda nice.
But it's coming into an already crowded market. Competing with the iphone is not going to be easy. At least the iphone comes from a background of an integrated product line. Ie Buy MacBook for computer, Ipod for music, Iphone for telecoms.
Palm doesn't have that. It's got a proprietary version of the operating system. Only runs on one(maybe two with Pixie) piece of hardware, and is competing with very well established lines of smart phones and feature phones(ie anything with S60, WinMo, Blackberry etc)
If Palm had released it 5 years ago(or maybe when it bought BeOS), I would care a lot more.
Android is my bet, as I should be able to concentrate on hardware upgrades, and not having to learn another crappy software interface. I want a good operating system that works on multiple hardware platforms-and not WinMo(I said "good" :P )
There's nothing fundamental about CDMA preventing the switch to verizon.
In North America, a "CDMA" network is one that runs Qualcomm's cdmaOne (IS-95) protocol stack or its successor, much as "TDMA" used to refer to D-AMPS even though GSM used TDMA modulation.
What I don't get is why is everyone so hot for it to move to Verizon.
Probably because the people who complain live in areas where Verizon is perceived to provide a more reliable signal than Sprint. Might it have something to do with the scores of network technicians portrayed in Verizon's television ads?
jump onto Verizon's network
Is Verizon really that lovable? I know all the iPhone haters are quick to point to AT&T as the worst cell phone carrier, but is there really so much love out there for Verizon?
For every AT&T phone I've had that supported bluetooth I've never had any trouble moving ringtones and pictures on and off the phone directly from my computer. I had heard that Verizon pretty much always disables features like that in order to force you to use their fee based options. I've never understood how someone who dislikes AT&T could have any love for Verizon.
I totally understand people rooting for the underdog, but loving Verizon and hating Sprint I just don't understand. Every time a new smartphone comes out it seems there's a huge clamor to use it on some carrier other than the one who's got an exclusive deal for the new phone.
Are there really any wireless carriers out there that are super awesome great companies who just unfortunately only offer crap phones?
I wonder if this will help Apple launch a legal assault regarding the Pre's ability to masquerade as an iPod?
Sega, Chamberlain, and Lexmark tried and failed to block Genesis-compatible game cartridges, LiftMaster-compatible garage door openers, and Lexmark-compatible toner cartridges in U.S. court, both before and after the DMCA. So I wonder what legal theory Apple might use for this.
I assume the root image indicates modifications to GPL source, like Webkit.
Have they published the changes?
This could actually be very good for developers versus the iPhone.
The plan is, from my understanding, that the WebOS SDK should allow devs to build capable but high-level apps in a Javascript-style environment (though I'm pretty sure these things are still compiled). Thus a lower barrier to entry than even the iPhone, at the expense of more intensive system-level access.
If Pre homebrew software doesn't require firmware modification like the iPhone does (does the Pre even need to be jailbroken?), that goes a long way toward legitimizing it to a mainstream audience, giving potential Pre developers two possible avenues for development.
Your mind is clear / The things that you fear / Will fade with how much you / Believe what you hear
Actually it was a miss aimed reply. I was replying to the grandparent message but I must of hit the wrong reply tag. My bad.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
Someone please mod parent down and do not click on link (unless you are into that sort of thing)
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
Why is the Pre better? Can you give specific examples?
OK here are a few examples of top of my head:
Here's my deal:
For roughly ten years, I've used devices with the old PalmOS (v3-v5). That period is now coming to an end - and after all the bad design decisions they've heaped on in order to let developers continue to work with the same assumptions they used in 1996 (i.e., m68K device with all storage in RAM) the old platform is just a mess.
Now, when looking at the options I've got to replace my old Treo at some point, I'm not liking my options. iPhone isn't a great option for someone who likes to use their phone as a portable computer (what can I say? Sometimes I'm out somewhere with some time to kill, and I want to hack some code...) - Android or webOS could be possibilities, but the primary development models for these devices (i.e. target a VM for the Android, or write a web-style application for webOS) don't seem like a good fit for an embedded device.
The history of PalmOS is one of the things that makes me very hesitant to get a Pre without being very sure they've got their heads screwed on right with regard to the OS architecture this time around. PalmOS was a good design - for a handheld in the late nineties. Where they went wrong was sticking with that model after it stopped making any kind of sense at all. The combination of PACE (as the primary means of running applications on the device) and NVFS is an affront to everything that's decent in the world.
So I really gotta repeat the earlier question: what's so great about webOS? The idea of an OS where you write apps in HTML, CSS, and Javascript sound hideous to me, frankly...
Bow-ties are cool.
Actually Palm has a history of providing unencrypted ROM images for their devices and explaining how to create your own ROM dumps from a device especially to registered developers. There are also numerous tools designed to allow people to customize these ROM images and install them on their devices some of which are supported by the device manufactures.
I doubt releasing the root image for the Pre was unintentional and I highly doubt Palm will do anything to discourage people customizing the root image and adding their own applications.
That was a whole different era. Since then Palm has been restructured a half dozen times, and fallen quite hard from their former glory as the #1 handheld platform. The new devices have all kinds of features the old ones didn't - features that some people won't want you to use with complete liberty. I don't think you can take it for granted that they'll continue playing by the rules they followed in the days of POSE and copilot.
Bow-ties are cool.
I keep on hearing from various sources (anecdotally) that Verizon has the best signal coverage, at least in my area. That probably has something to do with it.
And some people may want to try and move their phones because they can. :)
I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
AJAX? Really? Didn't we go through this once already with the iPhone?
Why don't we try asking ourselves this: Why are cell phone companies (handset manufacturers AND carriers) so terrified of putting real, honest-to-God *NIX-powered cell phones in the hands of consumers?
+++ATH0
What would be the point of putting a Pre on the Verizon network? The whole reason people wanted to put their iPhones on T-Mobile is that they could get it so much cheaper.
But with Sprint being cheaper than Verizon, and Sprint phones being able to roam on Verizon's towers, why would anybody want to move their Pre to Verizon? That'd be paying extra for absolutely no reason.
They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you fucked up. --Chris Rock
Sprint and Verizon hardware roam on each other's towers. I just switched from Verizon to Sprint, and have not noted any difference in coverage anywhere.
I can see no point in activating a Pre with Verizon. That's just paying more for the same thing you already have.
They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you fucked up. --Chris Rock
Mojo is just Palm's mobile version of Dojo. If you want to see more of the foundation of the Javascript programming environment just checkout http://dojocampus.org/
It's not Palm's Mojo, but it will give you a good start on how you will do Mojo development.
Mojo will sure be an iPhone killer, nothing like the limited SDK on the iPhone. How can you compare Cocoa programming to HTML5 and Dojo Javascript. :)
Looks like what Apple offered first on the iPhone, write Web 2.0 apps and profit. But, they don't seem to have plan B. Its Web 2.0 all the way.
Do you know if anyone of Palm Pre owners had asked Palm for sources of their modified versions of GPL software they use?
If yes, where did you publish it? ;)