Palm: assimilate with Android or die
It's no surprise that Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, and RIM were absent participating in Android and the OHA; each of those power-players has built its mobile business around its own separate mobile platform: OS X, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and BlackBerry, respectively. But the cellphone company we expected to be first in line for Android and the Open Handset Alliance, the one manufacturer that is truly desperate for a powerful, pre-developed, open Linux mobile OS, is nowhere to be found. We are, of course, talking about Palm.
Let's break this down: in 2005 Google acquires startup Android (founded by Andy Rubin of Danger / Sidekick fame), and decides to spearhead a consortium of wireless companies -- handset manufacturers, carriers, chipset makers, developers, etc. -- to rally around a completely free, open, customizable mobile OS based on Linux. Why? Well, besides being possibly the biggest corporate user of Linux and open source software that we know of, the mobile space obviously holds incredible value for Google.
Getting their apps and services on the largely crappy, disparate mobile platforms that exist today has proven to be a huge pain; rich mobile application standards are scarce in the wireless software world, and Google's business is in serving information anytime, anywhere, on any device. It's easy for Google to guarantee their services will work on just about any computer purchased in the last decade, but the same is totally untrue of cellphones -- so they set out to change that, and it seems as though they will do just that. So yeah, a mobile play it's really a no-branier.
Now let's think about Palm, which has been struggling for years through countless setbacks to introduce its own Linux-based mobile OS, in the mean time using a continuously cobbled-together version of Palm OS 5 (originally introduced in 2002) throughout. Palm's first attempt at a next-gen mobile OS, dubbed Cobalt, is announced in 2004 and quickly becomes the stuff of vaporware legend, delayed over and over until ACCESS eventually buys the flagging PalmSource (more here on how that whole thing went down); ACCESS pledges to finish development of Palm's misplaced next-gen mobile OS, and then license it back to Palm (among other companies).
But Palm's had enough, so earlier this year it announces its intentions to release its own Linux-based OS -- again -- but this time without the help of its spin-off sister company Palm Source (which, of course, is now a part of ACCESS). And that new OS is quickly hyped and lauded -- and then delayed. Yet again. Pushed back into late 2008 at the earliest (although we won't be surprised if Palm revises and makes that 2009 or even later). And so we ask, Palm, where the hell were you when Google was rallying its Open Handset Alliance?
We find it hard to believe Google didn't approach Palm; it's not some secret that Palm has long intended make Linux the OS at the core of its flagship products for the foreseeable future. So why did Palm, badly in need of a leg up in getting its new mobile OS off the ground, shun this opportunity? Here Google is presumably offering up Palm a completely open and customizable mobile OS that's built to run on devices exactly like the ones Palm is developing to run its forthcoming platform. With Android, Palm no longer has to worry about mounting R&D costs, developing its own Linux variant, creating an application layer and SDK.
Suddenly all Palm has to do is develop its own UI for Android, give the system the old Palm fit n' finish, maybe whip up an emulator layer for previous Palm OS apps, and they instantly reap the all benefits they've been after chasing the Palm OS-unicorn. Palm's most desperate hour could be over; suddenly there's a light at the end of Palm's tunnel. In fact, if we didn't know any better, we'd even fancy Android was created by Andy Rubin and Google to help Palm out -- it's just too perfect a coincidence. So why didn't Palm join up?
We can think of lots of reasons they might have shied away. Maybe Palm didn't think Android was ready yet -- a company's got to have standards, you know. Of course, that's bunk because it's fairly clear that 30+ other huge industry names didn't feel the same way about Android's maturity. And even if it wasn't 100% there, Palm stands to benefit from the resources those dozens of other players are pouring into Android. This is a platform that stands to get really amazing really quickly because so many companies are putting so much behind it.
Then again, maybe Palm felt its own OS was further along or more technologically superior than Android -- but we doubt that. Palm just announced another delay for its new OS, so obviously things aren't chugging along quite as planned. We saw the same thing happen with Cobalt; it doesn't matter how advanced Palm's OS is, if it's not ready and available to use on a device, it may as well not exist. Meanwhile, companies like HTC -- which used to do all of Palm's Treo hardware -- are planning to release their first Android devices in 2008, which means they probably started working on those devices six months ago. You think a market leader like HTC is going to dive in with no technologically sound reason?
Perhaps Palm was worried about its developer community abandoning it for this new platform, and decided to provide their own alternative to stave away the barbarians at the gate. But it doesn't take an analyst to tell you that logic is absurd; the barbarians at the gate have become Palm's own disenfranchised development community. Palm's new OS will undoubtedly break compatibility with Palm OS 5, and developers, who've been without a decent platform upgrade in over five years, will likely jump at developing for Android. And they have every reason to. It's probable that in the next couple of years there will be vastly more Android-based devices from dozens of handset manufacturers and carriers worldwide than there will be Palm devices -- even when the new Palm OS is released. Even those who stick around to develop for the new Palm OS aren't going to do so exclusively -- there's just absolutely no reason not to at least port to Android.
So what's our takeaway here? Well, obviously we're extremely excited for what Google intends to do for the mobile industry. From where we sit, assuming it can deliver (and really, when doesn't Google deliver?), everyone seems to benefit from openness and standards: handset manufacturers, carriers, component makers, developers, and most of all, consumers. But of the companies we didn't hear from today, it's pretty clear Palm, with its wayward direction and flailing advances, has the most to gain from Google's path of the righteous. It's time Palm cut its losses, gave up on its Quixotic quest to do its own OS, and apply laser-like focus on the things that made Palm Palm: innovative hardware with masterful interfaces, and amazing applications. The choice is clear, Palm, assimilate with the rest of the Androids, or die alone.
P.S. -Palm issued the following statement to us: "Palm has always been committed to open platforms for developers. And Palm has the added differentiation of being able to tightly integrate the software platform with our hardware design, which we believe gives us an advantage in delivering a great user experience.
Palm customers have benefited from the availability of Google services on Palm's platform, such as Google Maps for mobile on Palm OS. And we look forward to further collaboration with Google to offer great user experiences on Palm products."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
zorg @ Nov 5th 2007 2:56PM
Can't they choose both?
Satish @ Nov 5th 2007 4:24PM
does engadget has a huge stake in palm.. (75% or more???) ;-)..
No one..not even the cto's at Palm inc think so much as Engadget thinks about the best for Palm.
Ryan Block @ Nov 5th 2007 4:34PM
We have very strict standards about our editors investing in the companies we cover: it's absolutely not allowed.
But I'm starting to think you're right, and that maybe we want to see Palm succeed more than Palm actually does.
nana @ Nov 5th 2007 7:24PM
Ryan, do you have full disclosure on your investments? What are engadget editors invested in? Mmm?
Ryan Block @ Nov 5th 2007 9:30PM
Nana, there's not much further disclosure necessary than what I just said. Like the WSJ or NYT, Engadget editors are strictly forbidden from owning any technology stocks in companies we write about.
If someone owns stock in a company we are about to write about for the first time, that person is recused from being a part of the editorial process in any way shape or form regarding that business, and is strongly encouraged to sell their stock immediately. (That, however, hasn't ever happend that I recall.)
CUBSWILLWIN @ Nov 6th 2007 2:53PM
ryan, why the heck can't you invest in companies you write about. Besides you write about almost every technology company that exists.
P.S: Chicago rocks!
derX @ Nov 5th 2007 2:57PM
Palm, this is GOD'S GIFT TO YOU. It'll take you to near the end of next year to whip up your on "new and improved OS" and that's lovely, however, they've met you halfway. Now, design a GOOD LOOKING PHONE and save your company from "seeing Red" as you so aptly put it.
Cyque @ Nov 5th 2007 3:07PM
It is possible they don't need to commit to it before they are ready to release a phone with the OS on it. That is my hope. Palm is in dire enough straits that they probably need to worry about losing their sales for the rest of this year on anticipation of a new device in "early 2008". On the other hand informed buyers will hold off anyhow, but not everyone follows this stuff so closely.
If they really don't see this as an opportunity worth jumping on.. well.. they've been consistently wrong about everything for the last several years. I can't say I would be shocked.
Ryan Block @ Nov 5th 2007 3:30PM
I hate it when commenters can so easily sum up a thousand words in two sentences!
3rdsun @ Nov 5th 2007 5:27PM
I love it when commenters can so easily sum up a thousand words in two sentences!
Saint Dumb Ox @ Nov 5th 2007 3:12PM
Palm is the homely prom date that has the potential to be really wild in the sack. If only she would use some make-up and do something different with her hair.
turn_self_off @ Nov 5th 2007 5:37PM
bah, gimme the homely one any day ;)
Erwos @ Nov 5th 2007 3:13PM
Where would Palm make money on this? They don't make their own hardware. Their apps are generally nothing special, and I doubt they're going to be outcoding Google in any case. Palm's UI is simplistic compared to modern OSes, and a PalmOS-5 emulator would just be bringing cruft over from a time best forgotten.
If they had a platform that could _compete_ with Android, that might be something. But they don't, and it's unlikely they'll have one next year. Palm is screwed, but it has very little to do with Android; that's just one more nail in the coffin - the coffin they put themselves in by refusing to innovate for years.
Nash @ Nov 5th 2007 3:16PM
nice write up!
Cheers
spacegravity4me @ Nov 5th 2007 3:17PM
That was deep....
Alan @ Nov 5th 2007 3:22PM
Absolutely wonderful I think this is the greatest idea, an open source software for cell phone with all the google apps, although there should of course be a phone especially designed to run all this software but I truly believe that this will help create a great tool for developing creativity and functionality, this will allow us to have a very personal cell phone experience filled with people's necesities... plus if google develops an easy to use platform we will be able to create programs and apps very easily... Good bye Windows Mobile & Iphone. The big G is here!
Johan S @ Nov 5th 2007 3:26PM
Dear Palm,
If it doesn't have at least an 800 pixel width, don't bother putting a web browser on the phone. Seriously.
Also, web pages should render as if they were in 1024 or 1280 width, obviously.
Thanks.
-Johan
PS> If your phone has 800 pixel or higher resolution I will buy it on day one.
brando_commando @ Nov 5th 2007 3:28PM
can we have an "android in summary" highlights please
Todd @ Nov 5th 2007 3:44PM
Starting in January, can we have a dedicated RSS feed for the "evil old telco vs. Google" spectrum auction AND a dedicated one for Android? Please?
Matt @ Nov 5th 2007 3:42PM
except the first android phones are coming the SECOND HALF of 2008, not the first half.
Michael R Johnson @ Nov 5th 2007 4:06PM
Based on my understanding, yes, you're right. However, I think the point Ryan was trying to make is still valid.
shawn @ Nov 5th 2007 3:44PM
How, exactly, is Android the "first" open source phone? Trolltech's Greenphone and FIC's Neo1973 + OpenMoko seem to have beat Google to that honor. FIC's phone has the distinction of being open source both in the software (OpenMoko or Trolltech) AND the hardware. Will HTC ship an open source hardware platform? (doubt it.)
I think Google's platform will be interesting, but if I understand it correctly, it's nothing but a way to get ads on my phone while I continue to pay high fees for access. Open source or not, I want some *value* out of the deal or no ads.
thethirdmoose @ Nov 5th 2007 3:54PM
J2ME is open source too, right?
pic @ Nov 5th 2007 3:45PM
Not going to happen:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9521/palm-no-plans-to-join-googles-open-handset-alliance/
Geoffrey Sperl @ Nov 5th 2007 3:48PM
Palm will be bought (again) by someone. Apple might have an increased interest in them now, but I suspect RIM and Microsoft have the most to gain by purchasing Palm and getting access to their die-hard loyal customer base.
I don't foresee a future for Palm as anything other than a division, if that, of another company.
Michael R Johnson @ Nov 5th 2007 4:04PM
What value does Palm offer to Apple? Apple has already developed their own platform, with their own (closed) application structure. What does Palm bring to the table that would justify Apple (or anyone else) spending any money on them?
Zoesch @ Nov 5th 2007 4:38PM
If anything Palm can add their enterprise expertise (Small as it is remains valid) to Apple in order to make future iPhone iterations more enterprise friendly, so it's a definite (albeit remote) possibility
wslcrew @ Nov 5th 2007 4:00PM
I'm more interested in Motorola and their future with Android. They've been the world's second biggest phone manufacturer with RAZR, but with diminishing sales they're in a big trouble now. I've always thought that the biggest drawback for the RAZR that I had was the slow and buggy OS. Maybe by going with Google, they can make something good out of it.
Motorola, don't screw up like you did with Apple and ROKR!
mdg @ Nov 5th 2007 4:08PM
Correction: Palm OS Cobalt was not a Linux Mobile OS. It was proprietary and most likely based on BeOS which PalmSource purchased.
uncjigga @ Nov 5th 2007 4:10PM
I'm surprised HTC didn't just buy Palm for the brand name and fire everybody already. It seems like they want to be more than just an Asian OEM, but using Palm's brand would've been better than self-branding their devices.
Jordsn @ Nov 6th 2007 1:39AM
I was wondering the same thing. I assumed it would have happened already. Maybe Palm was being stubborn and won't sell.
PEZ @ Nov 5th 2007 4:19PM
Google is probably goign to have these things run all over that fibre they have been buying up for the past few years. AHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAH! AHAHAHAHA!
Ghen @ Nov 5th 2007 4:20PM
Oh my god. These extremely long letters to Palm are the absolute best. Its like reading about one of those horrible celebrity break-ups where they keep trying to get back together and then break up again and air all the dirty laundry in court.
Brilliant.
john @ Nov 5th 2007 4:22PM
Don't pigeonhole Nokia into Symbian. With the work they're doing on their internet tablets, they could simply be another arm of the Linux Phone family (OpenMoko, gPhone, and the motorola linux phones (RAZR2) being the other parts of that family).
OnZeFly @ Nov 5th 2007 4:31PM
Don't miss the boat, Palm!!
nojetlag @ Nov 5th 2007 4:40PM
Palm like Sun, just roll over and die (finally)... The world moved past you long time back
K-Canuck @ Nov 5th 2007 4:41PM
I don't get this at all. Have all mobile users turned into geeks (no offense, of course, I am one myself)? I've always thought of open-source OS's (i.e Linux) the "hacker's" OS. Having to run terminals, etc to get a program installed/working is not my idea of user-friendly. Maybe Google knows what they're getting into (like the Asus Eee PC). And if all the major firms have proprietary OS's and aren't willing to change, that leaves a very small market for this open OS. Sure, I applaud having an open OS to help competition and application support, but nothing is saying the hardware manufacturers just can't lock certain parts of the phones anyways (like the iPhone). Personally, I don't really see it as anything more than a publicity stunt by Google, playing off the current hype of the iPhone.
my .02
TooMuch @ Nov 5th 2007 5:05PM
All of you have got to be kidding. Android is pie-in-the-sky talk at this point. NO ONE has seen this project of 30-something companies (other than most of the big players). It is not a REAL profit venture for anyone more than Google. PALM would be idiots to give up its future for this venture!!!! If they die, let them die on their own genius. Since all of you are so much smarter, why don't you have more market share than PALM Inc.? Palm will live on, as it has for more than a decade, despite it's recent struggles and the never-ending doomsday prophecies.
Tim @ Nov 5th 2007 5:00PM
Perhaps Palm had already invested too much development dollars in their own platform and they need to focus their resources on it. Totally agree with the simplicity partnering with Android would bring, but if it comes at the cost of a multi-million dollar write-off it's probably not in Palm's best interests. I would certainly think they'll move towards Android at some point though.
Jason @ Nov 5th 2007 5:07PM
Linux only captured 2% of the computer user market... what makes people think it will be good on a phone? Besides... most phones run Java applications... that isn't the problem. 90% of smartphones run windows mobile because its easy to program for... they aren't even calling BB smartphones... most carries have a seperate "category" for BB's...
This will suffer from the same issues the iPhone does... if it doesn't plug right into Exchange it will be useless... that is what most smartphones are used for. if you have ever tried to get the BB Enterprise Server setup at a large company you will learn to LOVE windows mobile.
Also... look at all the apps available for windows based smartphones... there are TONS of different media players, etc... but no one EVER relates those 3rd party apps to windows mobile... they just compare what is in the core wm build... This sounds like a stripped down OS that a bunch of freeware developers will write stuff for... YIPPEE!!! I can't wait to have a bunch of 12 year olds writing my phone application!!!
josh @ Nov 5th 2007 8:31PM
I have no beaf with WM, for a corporate smartphone it works pretty well and the new live search stuff is really fantastic. It also shows a level of flexibility as Tmo rolls it into more of their consumer offerings. But it is by no means the giant in the smartphone market. Symbian owns that, and by a far greater margin than google owns search over Live.
Why would Palm flat out turn down Google, especially considering they have already released products running Windows Mobile? I have a couple of ideas. First, there is the perpetual question, will this be another forever beta google product, but that is a pretty cheap shot. More realistically, google has announced a tailored build of Linux for the mobile market (been done by several people) obstensibly with a web browser tailored to the mobile market. This leaves a whole lot of questions unanswered that are incredibly pertinent to the mobile space. How approachable will their SDK be to 3rd party application developers relative to say, .Net on Windows Mobile? Will Google offer messaging out of the box comparable to other feature phones, and will it interop with MSN or AOL, or simply google chat? Will it have media functionality comparable to competing phones? Are all of these features things that OEMs will need to produce?
Perhaps the reason Palm isn't keen to the Google OS is because perhaps google didn't address these issues. The average consumer doesn't give a damn about what OS the phone runs. They care about what the phone can do, what the software can do. I didn't see anything about the Google OS that addressed this at all. It was all vaporware concerning their open platform with no details of what the OS really will deliver. If Palm is further along developing the software that consumers actually give a damn about (and considering their recent Hardware they seem more consumer rather than business oriented), what would be the compelling reason to switch?
Sarah Connor @ Nov 5th 2007 5:07PM
Is anybody else concerned that Google, owner of all those servers and dark fiber, is about to make a play for the communications network with something named "Android?"
B Blomberg @ Nov 5th 2007 5:21PM
It's not that easy to create a SUPERIOUR mobile OS and I guess Palm, want to offer something exceptional - when they finally will replace the current OS that still is the finest alternative, if you want excellent PIM functionality!
Average take time and something exceptional, take simply a lot of time...
g2 @ Nov 5th 2007 6:06PM
This would add weight to Google's effort to capture the interest of business-minded users with productivity apps (this is where the iPhone is lacking).
A lot of it depends on how far they have come. If both are Linux variants, would it be a total loss in development to move to the Android model ? Probably not, but only Palm could answer this question.
Palm OS still provides an excellent user experience on devices like Treo 680 and it's been thoughtful & reliable. I would still recommend a non-Windows Palm Treo for a smartphone. I hope they do well and take issue with the "die" part of the article title.
Reid B. @ Nov 5th 2007 6:37PM
Well Palm switching to Android would mean Ed Cooligan might have a success and apparently that goes against the grain.
Either that or Palm employs John Conner who realized this the first step in Skynet destroying mankind.
Someone said it - this is like Manna from Heaven for Palm but they are too dumb to realize it. In the meantime, my T/X doesn't work for shit with Vista because they can't even program the software they have let alone make a new one.
Make no mistake, clever programmers will skin Android to make the phone of your wettest dreams and Apple will look like a skanky old lady sitting on a park bench smoking a cig.
Reid B. @ Nov 5th 2007 6:42PM
@TooMuch
You don't know what you are talking about. The SDK will be released even before the iPhone's! I have used Palms for 15 years and the past few have been a terrible abuse of its customers.
Reid B. @ Nov 5th 2007 6:50PM
Palm's failure to keep up with the times and the changes in software, like Vista Compatibility (despite having YEARS of warning) is a slap in the face to all of us who have supported Palm loyally since their beginnings. We have to function day to day and if our stuff no longer works, we can't wait for yet another two years for Palm to pull their thumbs out of their ass. I've waited and waited, given every benefit of the doubt, but I need a device that works. The iPhone is a dress on a pig and Windows Mobile is like the beginning credits of Get Smart to get anything done. If Google can produce the interface that FINALLY works in the 21st Century, I will gladly become Android.
B Blomberg @ Nov 6th 2007 2:23AM
As I wrote in the other post...
One major "problems" with Palm OS is that it's already too open... There are many hundreds of programs for Palm, that is so badly written that they make the system unstable or hang and then does many people blame the OS and not the faulty program... And it would either ruin Palm or make the programs dramatically more expensive, if Palm actually did control and validate the code of the many thousands of program, that are made for Palm!
Hopefully will Palm include a function in their new OS that (a) warn for problematic programs, telling you whats wrong and maybe that you should replace it with a new version, plus (b) inform you clearly (there is a hidden log function) what program it was that made the OS hang!
nathan @ Nov 6th 2007 1:48PM
You obviously haven't ever coded for the Palm OS. It's a non-threaded single application 16-bit OS. (Yes it's still 68k emulated over ARM - below it does have threads, which is worse than not having any as they're not documented well). If you call an OS routine with the wrong arguements, you'll get a Fatal Alert dialog, or in Treos, your device will reset. What piece of shit OS can't return error codes instead of RESETTING the ENTIRE DEVICE when something goes wrong? No virtual memory or kernel, so any app can write anywhere. We learned back in the early 90s not to do allow applications to do that. Basically Palm is DOS with a UI.
Richard Cartwright @ Nov 12th 2007 12:57AM
First, "30 tech powerhouses" means about at least 40 different takes on the UI, a nightmare for 3rd party devs. Second, this gets Google a possible toehold on a lot of different phones all with GPS location ability (thanks to the requirements of 911) Can we spell targeted ads here? Can we spell security issues? I really wonder why the vaporware announcement this week with a SDK NEXT week?
I suspect that that Palm OSII got delayed because of the bar set by the iPhone and the need to at least match Android. That is the glass half full talking. OTOH noting I have seen from Palm closes the door to adopting Amdroid as one of three platforms, Palm, WM and Android.