
So we weren't even aware that this was an issue anymore, but apparently Xerox and Palm have still been battling over that "Unistrokes" handwriting recognition patent which caused us to waste several minutes of our lives learning a handful of new Graffiti 2 characters oh so long ago. Battling up until today, that is, because after nine years the two companies have finally come to a mutually-acceptable agreement, wherein Palm caves and pays Xerox $22.5 million. The deal does net Palm paid-up licenses on a total of three Xerox patents -- licenses that also apply to
Access PalmSource and 3Com -- as well as a so-called seven-year "patent peace," in which the two sides agree to stop fussing and fighting about infringements pertaining to certain technologies. Does this agreement mean that we can expect to see the triumphant return of Graffiti 1 on future Palm PDAs? We're not sure, but frankly, now that we've moved on to packing QWERTY-equipped Treos, we don't really care.
Yep, a little too little too late it would seem.
When I ran PalmOS handhelds I was a G1 stickler and used techniques to keep it on my newer Sony Clie's.
I never learned G2 or any of the other alternatives, and with the proliferation of keyboards it probably doesn't matter, just as was stated in the article.
Actually, I'm so used to G2 now that I'll need some time to switch back to G1.
I've been sticking with a WristPDA, Palm V, and MarkSpace software for the sole reason that I HATE G2... Long live G1!
Now where's my copy of OS/2...