Palm prepping its own Linux-based OS

Just a few years late, Palm is finally getting ready to land its users onto a modern Palm-built OS. Ed Colligan, in his Investor Day keynote today, announced that Palm will be launching a homegrown Linux-based OS by the end of the year, with Opera for a browser and the recently acquired Chattermail for messaging. Palm has been secretly at work on this OS for a number of years, and does not plan to license it to other manufacturers. Colligan also says that Palm is going to continue Windows Mobile product releases, and thanks to that handy Garnet license, Palm will be able to show its "commitment to the Palm OS community" by merging Palm OS 5.4 support into its Linux kernel. So, no more ALP dreams for the Palm kids, but this isn't a total surprise either, rumors had been brewing that Palm had something like this up its sleeve -- we just hope it's not too little, 'cause it certainly seems to be too late. On the hardware side, Palm is working on platforms that can be used with either OS, which should speed development time and supposedly result in more device releases, including an expanded product portfolio "to address user segments." What, you mean not every consumer wants a chubby Treo that looks just like every other Treo since the 650? We're shocked!

Read - Ed Colligan keynote
Read - Palm announces new Linux-based OS

[GioNYC @ Apr 10th 2007 11:49AM]

Yep. Once they have seen Apple i-Phone capabilities, now there stepping up.

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 10th 2007 11:54AM]

Commitment to the community or just the incredibly large body of software (sales) they'd be leaving behind?

-or the fact that OS 5.4 already exists and is easier to work with then having to develop something from scratch?

What universe do these folks live in? What time line?

[Aron Trimble @ Apr 10th 2007 12:09PM]

Weren't they prepping a Linux-based OS like 4 years ago?

[Aron Trimble @ Apr 10th 2007 12:09PM]

Weren't they prepping a Linux-based OS like 4 years ago?

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 10th 2007 12:12PM]

I'm under the impression that they were prepping a Linux-based OS like 4 years ago.

[Ken @ Apr 10th 2007 12:19PM]

Is this Palm's Linux offering, independent of Access Co, Ltd. (makers of NetFront) of Japan buying Palm and building their own Linux OS for Palms? ...or is this one-and-the-same?

Seriously, I thought Palm announced and has been prepping Linux for years? At this point, with their stagnation and fracturing (650,700w,700p), I'd rather see Access take a crack at it and release it before I'd see the Palm folks release too little too late.

[Ken @ Apr 10th 2007 12:28PM]

nevermind, according to:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9351/palm-announces-new-linux-based-mobile-platform/

"Colligan also revealed that this was a new platform that Palm has been working on, in house for a number of years. He stated that Palm would not license this new OS to outside hardware companies, meaning this will be a Palm exclusive platform.

This is a separate project from Palm Inc and is not related to the ACCESS Linux Platform, which is being developed by ACCESS, formerly PalmSource. Many of the technical software and hardware details have yet to be announced. "

I'm with Ray. Palm hasn't had a good track record for OS development since their initial PalmOS 3 and maybe 4. I reboot my Treo 650 nearly as often as I do my HTC Wizard running WM5AKU3.3 ...neither PalmOS 5 or WM5 are great at memory management or cleaning up processes. I'd rather see Access release their own Linux, maybe with Quartz?

[Ray @ Apr 10th 2007 12:20PM]

Unless they release this "new" OS for the *still* unpatched and bug prone 700P, I want nothing to do with Palm or any of their devices.

$600+ for a device that needs to be rebooted more often then a Windows 95 box is unacceptable. (Bluetooth devices have issues reconnecting after a disconnect).

[tcc3 @ Apr 10th 2007 1:07PM]

Promises, promises. Too damn late.

They've already lost a lot of people by propping up the dead horse that is Garnet.

[Mike @ Apr 10th 2007 1:27PM]

TOO LATE? YOU PEOPLE ARE RETARDED. THE SMARTPHONE/HANDHELD DEVICE MARKET IS HUGE AND WINDOWS MOBILE IS DEFINITELY NOT THE OS TO END ALL OS'S.

WITH A LINUX BASED OS SOFTWARE VENDORS WILL BE ABLE TO PROGRAM ALL KINDS OF SOFTWARE TO INCREASE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THESE PHONES AND WONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE OVERHEAD AND HARDWARE REQ.S OF WINDOWS OR THE SINGULARITY THAT IS SYMBIAN.

BEST MOVE PALM HAS MADE IN A LONG TIME.

[Z @ Apr 10th 2007 1:31PM]

Palm prepping its own Linux-based OS.


Yip-dee-doo.

With this OS, these are the best headlines we'll be reading even a year from now.

[Dave Haupert @ Apr 10th 2007 2:16PM]

Not updated since the 650? How about the 600! I have one sitting here on my desk for testing that I often get confused with my 700wx because they are so similar looking!

Regarding reboots- I have to say the 700wx has not needed a reboot for me more than once in the 10 months I've owned it. I have to give credit where credit is due- we always joke about rebooting windows and now Palms, but in this case, a windows mobile Palm has been very reliable. Just wish it had a better screen and went on a small diet ;)

[anon1234 @ Apr 10th 2007 2:44PM]

Methinks Palm is just doing price negotiation for Windows Mobile (kinda like Dell appears to have been when they launched their "dell ideastorm" promoting Linux).

Every few years just about every hardware and software vendor pre-announces some Linux thingy only to see how much Microsoft will pay them off (again).

[mj @ Apr 10th 2007 2:45PM]

I'm afraid I mostly agree with the posters here. Too little, too late.

Most importantly, they have to release a windows-based blackberry knock-off, and something more along the lines of enV, and then something Windows-based closer to the Iphone.

In other words, now that they've announced this, it's irrelevant. They should release it to the community and make sure that it runs on their hardware and stop investing in this. They can't support this software, it's a distraction for a company that can't afford to release innovative new hardware every year. The cell industry has left them behind and they need every penny to have a prayer to catch up.

I LIKE palm and the palm OS. They're great, and it's a terrific software scene. But this is a business, and the dollars and cents don't lie. They don't have to be Samsung but they can't afford to be Amiga.

[David @ Apr 10th 2007 3:02PM]

Does anyone think that owners of Palm now would be able to upgrade in the future? I plan on getting an iPhone but not anytime soon, I'll probably end up getting my Dad's old LifeDrive Manager before I can afford my own iPhone.

[Russell @ Apr 10th 2007 3:43PM]

Does anyone really care when WM5/6 is so much better already?

[ron jeffries @ Apr 10th 2007 3:53PM]

I reboot my Treo 700P about one a day.
Palm should be ashamed.

The news they'll bundle and support ChatterEmail
is great. It's my email of choice -- it's very good
stuff.

[Ashton @ Apr 10th 2007 4:06PM]

Don't get me wrong, I love Linux. I use it all the time. But I feel that if in 4 years they haven't got it working, they're wasting their time.

Linux does many things better, and in the mobile market it has a place to shine, as it isn't encumbered by that whole "It doesn't support games" excuse that most users who complain about windows, but refuse to try Linux, spit out.

But, it's important to remember that the vast majority of the strength that Linux enjoys now (compared to a few years ago) is due to community involvement. While there are many embedded projects that keep their source behind closed doors until release time comes, if you haven't got it nailed down in 4 years, perhaps it's time to think of a different course.

Drop it, or seek community help. Or simply bleed yourself dry, if you want to, I guess.

[itguy07 @ Apr 10th 2007 4:10PM]

"Does anyone really care when WM5/6 is so much better already?"

Considering WM 5/6 suck big donkey nuts, yes. My 650 is rock solid. WM is a POS in all apsects - UI (Start menu on a mobile, get real), reliability and robustness.

This news is great!

[Kent Pribbernow @ Apr 10th 2007 11:06PM]

@Mike >>"TOO LATE? YOU PEOPLE ARE RETARDED."

Yes, but at least we know how to disable our Caps lock.

[Peter @ Apr 11th 2007 1:11PM]

"...Palm will be able to show its "commitment to the Palm OS community" by merging Palm OS 5.4 support into its Linux kernel."
but
"...and does not plan to license it to other manufacturers."

I hope they've read the GPL.

[Z @ Apr 11th 2007 9:21PM]

@itguy07

"This news is great!"


Yeah, have fun being alone with your "if-it-ever-manages-to-exist" palm-linux device that no one cares (or will ever care) about.

[Ken @ Apr 12th 2007 9:57AM]

I beg to differ. As someone who's done custom ROMs from the PalmPilot Vx through the Sony CLIE to the Palm 650, to the Sharp Wizard SL-6000, and HTC Wizard, there are many of us out there who try to make "if-it-ever-manages-to-exist" palm-linux device that people DO care about (or WILL care about).

XDA Developers:
http://www.xda-developers.com/

Linux PDA Showcase:
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077.html

[Bengar @ Apr 21st 2007 5:07PM]

FYI
http://www.grack.com/programming/misc/TreoLinux.html

[Z @ Apr 21st 2007 10:40PM]

Like I said, have fun. Few will ever use the device. That is, if it ever manages to reach the shelves. By that time, it'll be too late for anyone to care.

[T151 @ May 3rd 2007 11:28PM]

I for one am anxious and supportive to see what Palm comes up with. I ran with Palm OS 3.0 in the past, and eventually migrated my use over to Pocket PC, which now of course is Windows Mobile. Seriously, the people at Palm get it right when it comes to simplicity in execution. Microsoft gets it right when it comes to 'stuff as much as you can into that little box, don't worry about glitchy screen flickers, app conflicts, data syncs that duplicate records... on and on and on...". The whole idea of Palm being late to the game probably entails more to do with being distracted with ACCESS/Palmsource dealings, and netting enough Linux developers to make a dent at the task of building the OS from the ground up. Search on google a little bit for some interviews with the development/project team leads at Palm... or even for ACCESS's efforts with ALP... You'll see in both cases, these folks were choosing to craft the UI and the various application layers that ride on the linux base from scratch. And throw in now the ability to multi-task. C'mon... If you've ever loved the smoothness and flow of working with a palm device,... then wouldn't you be thrilled to see that same experience enhanced by being able to talk on your Treo device and surf the net at the same time. You're downloading a file, yet a call comes in and you're able to take it..., or switch out of the download page and hammer out a couple text pages while that file is still loading down.... that's pretty cool. late or not... I'm looking forward to it.

Someone also mentioned the paradox situation of Palm making it a 'closed' system without licensing it, yet the inherent open source situation of working with Linux. I'm thinking the enforceability on this comes with the Palm UI, the layers in between the apps and the OS that are basically not Linux extensions, but Palm-owned source code that allows the unit to feel, function, act in a manner that delivers a Palm flavored user experience. What's an OS? Memory management, file management, bus management... a couple other things... but the core isn't really all that much.. so whether it's open or not... Palm can lock down it's implementation of the layers that ride on that core.

Cheers.. PS... I currently run with a Dell Axim X30, 624Mhz and all that. It sort of sucks...

[Michael Bethencourt @ May 27th 2007 5:42PM]

I think this is great news. However, I am skeptical as to whether or not this will be enough for Palm to recover. They should have done this four years ago.