ACCESS renames Palm OS to "Garnet OS," Treo users die a little more inside
By Paul Miller 
posted Jan 25th 2007 11:29AM
posted Jan 25th 2007 11:29AM
It's no secret: ACCESS hates you, and your futile little wishes for a usable, stable and connected OS. Just to rub it in, ACCESS is even destroying that one thread of hope you've clung to all these years while your buddies left the faith for Windows Mobile or other abominations. Palm OS is no more. That's right, you're a Garnet OS fanboy now that ACCESS has officially renamed Palm OS to Garnet OS -- just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? ACCESS calls this one of two "milestones in our evolution as a leading provider of a range of technologies, solutions, platforms and products specifically designed for the mobile phone and converged device markets." We're not sure what that's supposed to mean, but at least ACCESS didn't try to write this off as an attempt to reduce customer confusion, there's no chance of that at this point. The other milestone is the announcement of the "ACCESS Powered" logo, which will denote -- you guessed it -- ACCESS powered products, which we suppose will include Palm products for the moment, even though Palm has taken most of the Garnet development reins of late. What we're specifically hoping it means is that ACCESS is finally prepping to debut its long-awaited ACCESS Linux Platform (ALP), and just needed a fancy logo to slap on and make everything official.
It's better to burn out than it is to rust.
I believe the hierarchy is something like: Diamond, Spahire, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum, Gold, Silver Bronze, Copper, pearl, amethyst, amber ,garnet, wood, brick.
So Garnet OS sounds about right.
You mean they changed their name AND created a new logo? *head explodes* WOW! They really ARE a "leading provider" for mobile phone markets!!
This blogger seems to have forgotten an article he wrote a little while back:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/04/24/just-what-we-needed-more-700p-pics/
'Access Powered' has been stamped (as you noted) on the back of all 700p devices and the boot screen no longer says Palm Powered, but 'Access Powered'.
See the thing is, Access doesn't hate Palm fanboys, Access merely no longer OWNS the name Palm, that was sold..to Palm (formerly Pa1mOne). Access simply cannot legally call it Palm OS anymore.
So.. nothing to see here except some excessively negative snarky comments.
This comment is destined for the corporate-speak BS hall of fame: "milestones in our evolution as a leading provider of a range of technologies, solutions, platforms and products specifically designed for the mobile phone and converged device markets." This will be right up there with "New Coke" and other marketing driven re-branding snafus. Palm has brand equity, why shred it?
Wow, what an unimpressive logo design. I wonder which "logo-in-a-box" website they purchased that from for $100 or less.
-David
http://www.davegk.com
They just lost me. I had hope in the new ACCESS OS, but this daft name change and the interminable wait are just too much.
Maybe Access can get a list of people who own a treo with palm/garnet on it and then send some to just kick us in the junk.
There is no more time for talking. It's time for the Palm OS in any of its incarnations to show and prove. All of us faithful Palm users are sick of the dog and pony show. So as much as I want to get excited about the ALP and GHOST....Sorry I just can't. Quit sellin us dreams and give us the real thing please. Thank you...That is all :-/
And just think, it would only cost Apple about $40-ish million to grab a license to use the OS-formerly-known-as-PalmOS to run in emulation on that whizz-band iPhone, judging from the deal that Palm made a couple of weeks ago with Access.
How many Palm-ers would switch over that option, especially if a non-phone widescreen iPod could run the emulation officially as well?
I still think its a shame that there wasn't an option on the Sony PSP to add PalmOS to it; granted, it would require some type of touchscreen, thereby raising the price.
So is it even going to be worth getting something like the Palm TX, if I plan to keep the device for as long as possible? Will Windows Mobile reign supreme from this point on?
Why did they have to do this today, Dell had the Asus MyPal 636 on for $370 CDN yesterday and I almost bought one, but the TX with wireless keyboard held me at bay. Ugh.
This is the kind of thing that drove me to call my OS "RIM". Seriously, how long are they going to continue to foist this travesty of an OS upon us? Let me know when I can buy a Treo powered by ALP. You can reach me at my Blackberry email address.
"Whizz-bang". Curses to Typostiles, the Roman God of Typos! I did not mean to imply that there was some new band of mobile phone technology in that posted comment, although 4G might be construed as "whizz-band".
"left the faith for Windows Mobile or other abominations."
Why mince words? Let go of your PalmOS fanboyism and run with it.
Fortunately, those of us who have used lots of PalmOS *and* WinMobile/CE/PPC devices aren't losing much sleep over yet another effing GARNET device. Many have moved on to more stable, more functional and flexible WM or Smartphone powered devices while FrankenGarnet gets repatched, retweaked and rehashed ad nauseum.
Thanks Access and Palm. You guys make the PDA and Phone choice that much easier with moves like these.
"...milestones in our evolution as a leading provider of a range of technologies, solutions, platforms and products specifically designed for the mobile phone and converged device markets, bla bla bla, deep, profound marketing hoo-ha, bla bla bla..."
Yaaaaaawwwwwn. Huh? Wha' wassat? Acce-who?
strange that they didn't register the name www.garnetos.com
that sucks sooo much. palm os was the best. wtf is garnet os??? doesn't sound right.
So let me get this straight. My Palm V and Handspring Visor were Palm powered, my LifeDrive is PalmOne powered, my friend's more modern Treo is again Palm powered, and future devices will be powered by the Garnet OS while labeled "Access Powered." Not confusing at all.
"I believe the hierarchy is something like: Diamond, Spahire, Emerald, Ruby, Platinum, Gold, Silver Bronze, Copper, pearl, amethyst, amber ,garnet, wood, brick."
Wait, arent those all pokemon games?
Palm is going to continue lose ground not because it's better or worse than windows mobile, but because of marketing and management mistakes. Like somebody said above, Palm name has a lot of brand equity, a lot, and they are replacing it with some sname barely anyone has heard of it. At the same time this transferof ownership and palm itself trying to distance itself from the palm os, will add up to its quick demise. I love the Palm OS but its owners and key managers are their own culprits of its demise.