Palm chooses Wind River Systems for Foleo's Linux

Just over a fortnight before the Foleo is rumored to launch, Palm has selected Wind River Systems as its preferred Linux platform provider. Reportedly, Wind River Platform for Consumer Devices, Linux Edition has been chosen as the "open standard Linux platform for future Palm Foleo software releases," and Palm seems to think that this will "help speed applications to market while still meeting the requirements for a stable and robust open mobile platform." Palm's Mark Bercow was also quoted as saying that the company hopes that building the Foleo on an open Linux-based platform and publishing the tools developers need will enable "a vibrant developer community to create new applications that extend the mobile companion's built-in capabilities." Regrettably, there's still no mention of a hard release date, but at least you open-sourcers can start dreaming up ways to better this thing as soon as it hits shelves.

[hartmania @ Aug 7th 2007 10:52AM]

Isn't this irrelevant considering this device serves no purpose?

[Quincy @ Aug 7th 2007 10:56AM]

Is it just me? -Or is it becoming really painful to watch Palm go through this sad slow walk towards its death.

[Korey @ Aug 7th 2007 11:14AM]

No it's not just you, this thing will be completely useless. They should have went for a UMPC design it probably would have sold better then this overpriced piece of plastic

[ph @ Aug 7th 2007 2:40PM]

I'm quite surprised by the constant criticism of the Foleo. I'm looking forward to a light, instant-on, Linux subnotebook that I can use for typing my Novel when I'm on a train. My MacBook is ok, but the keyboard sucks and it's just too large to carry around happily.

The Foleo can be improved but still, it looks good and I'm waiting for them to be on the shelves so I can buy one.

[Mile @ Aug 7th 2007 11:23AM]

A handheld device with a VGA port and a USB port that has PowerPoint installed on a chip would be nice. Plug your jump drive in the USB port and maybe you press a button on the device to cycle through the PPT files, another button that starts the slide show and advances slides. I would think that would work for a lot of sales people who don't need to update the presentation on site.

[herman manfred @ Aug 7th 2007 11:31AM]

So Palm gave up on the CURRENT Linux on the foleo?

[mikey @ Aug 7th 2007 4:10PM]

I think I'll reserve judgment on whether or not the Foleo is worthless until the Asus eee with a 10" screen comes out. The Foleo will probably still have a price premium, but the bundled software might make it worth it.

[Bill Reals @ Aug 7th 2007 11:52AM]

This thing is DOA.

[konadakine @ Aug 7th 2007 12:15PM]

It is huting to see the one time handheld leader waste time, money and R&D on a useless product that cant even play music. Music and video is what is selling the iphone. This is not a phone! ok can get a HTC advantage that will run circles around tis thing and throw my constantly locking up treo 750 in the trash. Palms responds with the "ganolf" are they on crack at the Palm headquaters. Square screen and a butt ugly design.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, palm lays here in this Foleo grave motionless and waiting to become one with the earth. We all saw the signs and we all tried to help, but Palm committed suicide regardless.
Palm Rest in Peace! See you on the other side!

[Watts @ Aug 8th 2007 10:27AM]

It's "Huting"? Haunting? Hurting? I can't figure out what you meant by "Huting". I wouldn't dance on Palm's grave yet, folks. There is a market for a device like this.

[billy bob thorton @ Aug 7th 2007 3:47PM]

You guys are missing the point. compared to an ultra portable this thing is sort of a bargin. I think it's $300 over priced, but I like the concept. It needs way better battery life and a couple of card readers. It's actually way smaller than it looks in most of the pictures.

[Charlie @ Aug 7th 2007 12:30PM]

I for one will be buying a Foleo. It will be perfect for giving presentations to customers and checking email via WiFi. Just pop it into my briefcase and it's all I need to carry with me for those 1 or 2 day trips. I would like to have more flash memory though, it seems on a device like this that 4 or 8 GB should be standard.

[BigReg @ Aug 7th 2007 12:49PM]

Charlie you will likely be one of *very* few. I mean dude you already have a complaint about the storage and its not even out yet. It goes to show how imperfect a box this thing is.

With your stated requirement, wouldn't a UMPC be a much more versatile travel/presentation device?

Its over, Palm simply needs to walk towards the light....

[Charlie @ Aug 7th 2007 4:24PM]

Hi BigReg. I see what you mean, it's true to say a UMPC would be more versatile but I prefer the battery life of the Foleo and the simplicity of a non-windows OS (especially like the instant-on feature). One thing I have noticed is that most people who like the idea of a Foleo happen to be Mac users, not sure if this is a good or bad thing for Palm.

[Richard Cartwright @ Aug 7th 2007 6:52PM]

You can add CF AND SD to your heart's content (and your pocketbook)

[Bogdan @ Aug 7th 2007 12:44PM]

How about changing you business strategy, Palm? You're just ruining yourself. What is the point of integrating almost unknown Linux distro into Foleo? In cas if I need help, where do I find it? Call Palm tech support every time I need help? Time wasteful. Isn't Ununtu a better choice? I can find tons of information online.
Unbelievably dumb move, Palm.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 7th 2007 4:56PM]

I believe the name "Folio" in some languages actually translates as "one of the last nails in the coffin".

But hey, prove me wrong, Palm.

Prove me wrong.

[konadakine @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:12PM]

Palm is dead! When I was returning my Treo 750 there were two other people doing the same thin. One bought an Iphone the other a blackberry and I bought an 8525.
The only reason Palm exist still id because HTC and Palm have an agreement to manufacture phones for palm. Palm's processors are too slow. The designs are too old and the software is bugy. I love the form factor, but that is not enough to sell me!

Compare a Palm phone to any HTC phone and palm loses. Foleo in african means warrior who ran with the lions and won the race only to be consumed by a tigger.

Goodnight palm. Iphone with direct push will be your pallbearer and AT&T TILT will be your priest! Rest in peace Palm and my your bastard stepchild Folieo finaly find its home in hell with his lesbian sister, the Palm Gandolf!

[johdaxx @ Aug 14th 2007 1:22PM]

It almost looks like Palm expects developers to pop out of the woodwork and start developing apps for this thing like they've done with the iPhone...or some other connected organizer. How about $299 for a personal edition?