Palm confirms it'll be skipping the Android party
By Paul Miller 
posted Nov 5th 2007 4:47PM
posted Nov 5th 2007 4:47PM
"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."
While we're glad they responded, we really hope we don't have to wait a year and a half for Palm to prove us all wrong here.
Android is DOA anyways. Looks like a cheap way for some second rate carriers and phone companies to get a free linux distribution to fork from. With no requirement they retain compatibility or put their changes back into the alliance, there is no way this thing isn't going to branch immediately and then quickly die.
I actually somewhat agree with where you're coming from. Over at http://www.ohadev.com/forum/ someone mentioned that this type of thing is very disruptive to the old model of business, and that the OHA members might even sabotage the project because it's too risky for them to go all in.
I think it's a little tin-foil-hattish to assume that the OHA members will actively disrupt Android's usefulness, but it does seem plausible that they might not fully embrace it. In any case, though, we're not dealing with some hacked together only-for-show alliance here. Google has a hell of a lot more power than any company that's tried this before. Strategically they must feel that this has a decent chance of succeeding, otherwise they wouldn't be trying it, and the simple fact that so many people are paying attention to it means that it's got a pretty good chance of working out.
After all, would _you_ want to piss off Google by dishonestly joining up with a consortium then taking a big dump all over it?
You know...the last time you guys reached out to Palm, they listened. They ditched the Folio and refocused on their phones. So, kudos to both parties for understanding what the hell is important.
Now you reach out and more or less tell them that Android is their future handed to them on a silver platter...AND THEY DON'T PARTAKE OF THE MEAL. What the hell, Palm? I really hope your new OS is the most amazing software ever created. If it's not enough to battle the slew of far superior software out there, then you guys are dead. Good luck and godspeed, even though I feel I have wished them to you in vain.
Quickly, Ryan, start writing the eulogy.
I feel I didn't adequately explain my logic
What I'm saying is this: Palm wants some amazingly functional OS. Android, it seems, is more or less what they're looking for. It's Linux on a mobile phone. Different versions for different phones so it can do different things and take advantage of hardware/software and different segments of the market. Having Android would mean a universal mobile OS that works with tons of other phones on the market (once it gets kicking, of course).
I think if Palm were to embrace Android, it would have already saved itself. However, I don't think that Palm is going to let itself die by creating a horrible OS, so I have faith (albeit not much) in them that they'll deliver SOMETHING worth purchasing.
You're crazy, Palm would be an idiot to forfeit their future just to join this advertising venture. At this point, Android is just pie-in-the-sky. I know, I know, I know..."PALM, THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING...."
The Palm killers have been prophesying for more than a decade. All of them are dead so new prophets can get in line for...
Let's hope that Palm know something that we don't.
i.e. that their new o/s will actually blend with Android i.e. cohabit taking the bnest of the new functionality that comes along with the excellent design and hardware of Palm.
I doubt Android is dead. Yes, I know other Open Consortiums (with some of the same members) have failed, but I have yet to see anything Google has hyped up this much fall flat. Just think of the power and influence that it took to keep the true details of this under wraps for so long.
Even if it does fail, I would at least wait for the release of the SDK on Nov 12 to pronounce DOA.
And in response to their response, I will send a few copies of the book "The Origin of Species" over to the Palm board members and a DVD of Jurassic Park for those illiterate folk in Palm's Business Development department.
R.I.P. palm
I think it's rather presumptuous to tell a company that they *have* to do something. Putting yourself in their shoes, how would you take it, as a multi million dollar company that was the first in its industry, if some tech website that barely qualifies as 'journalism' started telling you how to run your company. My journalism comment refers to how Engadget is tech news - there's no comprehensive search for truth, it just aggregates and spits out what has happened. I trust you guys to tell me what's up techwise, not for in depth analysis and forecasts.
If you accept as a given that Palm is doing all they can to keep the company alive and growing, then it follows that they believe they are acting in their best interest. In this case, they may believe that using a common OS would make them just another generic option. Forecasting the future of companies may be a hobby to you, but to them, it's not just their job, it's whether or not they'll HAVE a job.
Right on!
"I think it's rather presumptuous to tell a company that they *have* to do something."
Engadget suddenly thinks they have the authority to micromanage Palm just because they received a response to their original criticism post. Hell, the official response was most likely strictly for damage control purposes and nothing more - in a single letter, the entire Engadget community went from hating Palm to being completely enamored by them.
Dooom. Doooooooooooom.
Can Palm play Doom?
Very badly.
--My Open Comment to Palm--
Please stop listening to Engadget. True, the Foleo was probably doomed, but you guys realy need to push forward and concentrate on bigger things than trying to appease this self-righteous peanut gallery that is the Engadget blog.
Cuz the people commenting on the Engadget blog don't know their head from their ass and make absolutely no sense whatsoever!
There was so much sarcasm in my comment, I had to leave another one to properly convey it.
A company like Palm won't succeed if they're always chasing after a moving target rather than setting realistic goals and concentrate on these areas. For example, don't chase after Android, work on getting the latest and greatest Palm OS out the door and stable.
As I wrote at the first post about this...
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...
^^^ Heavily riddled with Sarcasm! ;)
*sigh* Clever comments brought to a screeching halt because of no available edit button.
Prediction: Android = vaporware
If Palm went with WM they can at least try Android. Its not like they haven't tried something worst
Agreed. I think they should ditch WM and try Android. Seems way more promising. WM needs a makeover. WM5 to WM6 is really just a facelift.
JAmerican
i dont see how palm is "skipping the Android party."
maybe im illiterate or just plain stupid, but in that response, no where did it say anything about not using Android.
to sum it up, palm supports open platforms, palm likes to have the software "tightly integrated with [their[ hardware design, palm uses google services, and palm "[looks] forward to further collaboration with Google.
im not trying to sound like a douche, but could someone point out where they said theyre "skipping the Android party?"
I have to agree - I don't see where Palm is skipping any party. And isn't the party going to be by invite only or can anyone join?
The Palm hatred from Engadget is getting beyond old. I'm not sure if it's that they want Palm to fail desperately or that they really believe that they know best for them.
Time will tell where they, and Android wind up.
This is why Palm is destined to fail. They are stupid, stupid, stupid. This is your saving grace palm. Palm still thinks they have mojo. Ha! What a joke.
Another smart business move by Palm.
While engadget correctly understands the ominous nature of the announcement, it fails to appreciate the full power of the android. It affects way more than just Palm.
The handwriting is on the wall... Those who can't understand should listen to the prophet who can interpret the Divine utterance foretelling the complete destruction and dethroning of those who now rule but whose time is short. Hear now, be wise, humble yourselves, listen to what the prophet says and take heed...
SmartPhones are getting smarter and will be much more ubiquitous in the very near future. By 2010 more smart phones will ship than personal computers. SmartPhones will soon be capable of doing every thing a PC does. When you walk into your office with the android on your hip, peripheral devices will activate as follows: your LCD monitor will greet you; your wireless keyboard be ready for input; local network and Internet gateway connections will be established; peripheral storage media will synchronize. The PC will be supplanted by the SmartPhone. There will be no need for a Windoze O/S and those who participate in the SmartPhone O/S will rule with virtue and fairness and will enjoy overwhelming popular support. M$ Office applications running on a PC will no longer be needed. Almost all commerce including basic transactions will occur on the android platform and those who participate with the Open Handset Alliance will reap untold riches.
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin
That "response" from PALM was SOOOOOOO vague that they could finally decide to do ANYTHING and meet what those words say.
As evasive as you can get.
The Alliance releases their SDK in a week and INCLUDES ==look and feel== and MORE w.r.t. the phone interface; when is PALM releasing THEIR SDK?
Is the Palm OS even relevant anymore?
i hear "taps" playing in the background of palm. maybe its their corporate song.
These blogs prove that there are more idiots posting "doom" here everyday for PALM Inc. than ever existed in PALM Inc. itself!!!
*Ring Ring* Hey Palm, it's 1999 calling, and they think your OS is the best thing since Windows Me.
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!
Duh, their new OS will be based on a kernel which has proper memory protection and if a program crashes it shouldn't take the whole system with it.
Garnet is very weak in both of those areas.
this is the end of palm. Mark the time of death. Sorry palm.
No, it will be nothing for Palm, it is great company.