Hugeness: PalmSource planning Linux-powered version of Palm OS

PalmSource, the company behind the Palm operating system, just dropped a bombshell on the industry by acquiring China MobileSoft Limited, a Chinese software company that has been working on a version of Linux for cellphones and mobile devices. What's the dice? Windows Mobile has been putting the hurt on PalmSource lately (they've been losing both licensees and marketshare), so the plan here is to strike back with a new Linux-based version of the Palm OS that would have the robustness and flexibility of Linux and the ease of use of Palm. No word on when this new Palm/Linux OS might become a reality, but PalmSource says that they're still going to introduce Palm OS Cobalt, the next version of the software, next year.

[Thanks, Vincent]

[Fine James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I really hope that PalmSource can stay afloat.....

[roo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I'd be all over a Palm PDA that I could hack Apache onto.

[Reggie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

What does this mean to Zaurus?

[Vincent Oberle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Actually, when reading into the announcement more closely, it really seems like some last chance move of a company afraid for its future. They plan to emulate Palm OS over Linux, emulating an OS over another never makes much sense.

Lets say it just slightly simplifies the smartphone OS war, by reducing it to Symbian, Windows Mobile and Linux (it was actually already that outside the US).

[Fedor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Nah, it isn't emulating one OS over another. It is using Linux as the kernel... the "boring" part of the OS. Palm OS has always been known for ease of use, good apps, etc. and that's what you ought to get from this move.

Smartphone manufacturers want to use Linux as the low level software (since there are lots of drivers for it, therefore cheap & fast to market) and now they get a decent UI & selection of apps for that.

(Disclaimer: I'm with PalmSource, however, this acquisition wasn't my idea :-)

[Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

So whatever happend to BeOS? I thought that was going to be Palm's saviour du jour... What a waste of a great operating systme (Be, that is).

[Superdork @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hey "Vincent Oberle" you must work for MS or something because I've seen variations of your name posting FUD on other Palm OS sites around the net??

[Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

There is definitely some "BeOS goodness" in Cobalt; if they ever release it...

[StuBee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Maybe I'm confused...but I believe Palmsource already released Cobalt...it's just that Palmone hasn't (and it appears doesn't plan to anytime in the near future) actually tailor it and create firmware for any of their PDA's.

Yes..Palmone has been making lots of bad decisions lately (ie. T5)

[suntiger @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Yes, Cobalt 6.1 is out. It's just that no one has used it in an actual device or offered an upgrade. They'll probably put it on the next big P1 model, which if we're all lucky won't suck and will be out by the middle of next year.

And don't get me started on the T5. I need to replace my m505 and I have decided to get a T3 because of all the mistakes that were made on the T5. It's a sweet piece of hardware, but WHY in the world did they kill the slider??? That was the whole point of the Tungsten series! And the lack of a vibe and a voice recorder is the icing on the cake of failure. Ugggh.

[RickP in AZ @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hmm, maybe it isn't for a mobile device at all. What about a "Linux Powered" low end desktop with Palm as the desktop environment? Cheap apps, fast as all get out, and a ton of easy to use applications... Who cares if it is emulating the PalmOS? Even on a "low end" 700Mhz Celeron it would fly.

[RickP in AZ @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hmm, maybe it isn't for a mobile device at all. What about a "Linux Powered" low end desktop with Palm as the desktop environment? Cheap apps, fast as all get out, and a ton of easy to use applications... Who cares if it is emulating the PalmOS? Even on a "low end" 700Mhz Celeron it would fly.

[DRG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

well.. Apple Took the Unix operating system and put their GUI over it to make OSX . so sounds like Palmsource is planning something similar w/ linux...

if it will give them the flexibility and features it needs to compete.. then more power to them!

[DRG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

well.. Apple Took the Unix operating system and put their GUI over it to make OSX . so sounds like Palmsource is planning something similar w/ linux...

if it will give them the flexibility and features it needs to compete.. then more power to them!

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I agree with the take on BeOS. I thought it was a great OS and had some huge potential. I even had early versions running my beloved P-II desktop PC back in the day. I loved it! But it looks like Palm is back pedaling on its financial and intellectual investments in BeOS as a foundation for Palm OS 6.

Sure OS 6 is available now, but the fact that PalmSource isn't commiting much effort to promote it tells you a lot. And as its closest hardware partner (PalmOne) starts toying with the idea of Windows Mobile powered Treos, it looks like PalmSource felt like it had to do something drastic to rethink their long term strategy.

But I'm not convinced that Linux will be a "shoo-in" for success in the handheld space. Just look at how long Sharp's penguin-powered Zaurus line has been around. It had competitive hardware and a Linux base but to this day it remains more of an enthusiast's tool than a true corporate workhorse (which is the golden egg for any handheld maker).

[Vincent Oberle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

7: "Superdork", who posts anonymously, no I don't work for Microsoft, and I would like to know what kind of Palm FUD I might have posted?

What I wrote was facts: Emulating an OS over another is not very good SW, and PalmOS is in almost no smartphone outside the US.