Palm OS "Nova" -- and first Nova device -- look like a lock for CES

New-ness, anyone? BusinessWeek is speaking in rather authoritative terms that we'll all be treated to the next generation of Palm OS -- Nova, as it were -- at a grand unveiling next month in Vegas. Details are still sketchy to say the least, but word has it that the company's engineers are super stoked about whatever it is they plan to unveil -- and considering the breadth and depth of the engineering team Rubinstein has managed to assemble over there, that's saying something (hopefully). The pub pegs Nova's commercial release for mid-2009, which jibes with the latest we've been hearing, promising to deliver a platform for meeting the needs of the "fat middle" of the market that lies somewhere between the buttoned-up BlackBerry and the media-rich iPhone (and no, we didn't just call you fat). The company apparently wants to create devices that "make smarter use of data about you," but until we have a Nova-powered phone in our soft, supple hands, that little gem of marketing doublespeak really doesn't mean squat to us. Just a few more weeks, ladies and gentlemen.

[FyreFlareon @ Dec 15th 2008 1:20AM]

Middleground between a Blackberry and an iPhone? Without reducing the features to either side, wouldn't it be more accurate to just say a merger between the two?

[ShogunMaster @ Dec 15th 2008 2:00AM]

Palm hasn't confirmed that Nova will be their big reveal. I'm still betting that they're trying to get us all excited about a Centro in a specially coloured case (probably pink).

[TareX @ Dec 15th 2008 3:40AM]

So they're announcing a gesture-driven Palm OS on a full qwerty-slider? Nice, but a couple of years late. Now there's Tegra, Android, and Windows Mobile 7 to look forward to.

Also, it better not have a square screen. I have no faith left in Palm.

I made a concept about a year ago... a user (brandon) showed me a similar concept released before that (the one in the middle of the page).... that may be what Palm's aiming for:
http://forum.treonauts.com/palm-smartphones/future-treo-smartphones/7786-treo-900-concept-design.html

[Metkis @ Dec 15th 2008 1:23AM]

I hope they bring in an app store. I simply love that idea on both Android and the iPhone. I think it's essential to ensure any sort of lifetime for Palm's new products.

[Rollins @ Dec 15th 2008 1:25AM]

They'd be fools not to have one. It's the perfect way to get third-party applications to consumers who aren't tech-saavy enough to go looking for them.

[James @ Dec 15th 2008 1:28AM]

Am i the only one who doesnt like the idea of an app store? Id much rather download a cab file and install it. It just seems more simple to me. Works just fine for me with windows mobile.

[Britt @ Dec 15th 2008 1:34AM]

downloading a cab is more simple than an OTA download? please

[Metkis @ Dec 15th 2008 2:27AM]

The problem with your .Cab files is that they aren't as consumer friendly. When you're looking at the demographic they are trying to target, I believe the desired effect is that you have something robust with features and ease-of-use so that anyone can pick one up and that everyone can like it.

Under an App Store, not only is there more profit to be made but also a more specific environment, but If Palm controls the repositories, it allows them to gauge the device towards certain consumers based on easy-to-download apps.

They'd be fools not to have one, as Rollins said.

The simpler you can make a wide variety of functions, the broader your consumer base is going to be. If a person whose only contact with a computer is to check their email wants a game of poker on her phone, do you think they are going to hassle around with .Cab files?

In the same vein, if a corporate worker who just wants a simple email application or perhaps something to better arrange his contacts past the functionality of the phone, do you think they want to hassle around with .Cab files?

The only fallacy I see in their design is that they are targeting a demographic that could really be described as most anyone. They MUST build their software well and functionally so that it manages to simply work for a huge demographic. I don't know if it's a feat that they are up to after such youth-whored products as the Centro.

I feel that Android is suffering because of this problem. There is very little focus on the software because it was expected that the community would take care of it. It is unfortunate because as a business or media phone, it fails to appeal to the wide demographic as much as something that is designed for pleasure over work, like the iPhone.

/rant

[o rly @ Dec 15th 2008 2:31AM]

Downloading a .cab is an OTA dowload & installation, and extremely simple. The idea of a single repository further simplifies it; a one-stop-shop if you will.

[BananaBoat @ Dec 15th 2008 2:34AM]

That there still isn't a good NES emulator for any of the blackberry models is proof enough of why you need a dedicated app store. There was one for the Iphone within a week of launch it seems, and yet there isn't one for the blackberry this many years later (the key word here is good. There is one, sure, but it runs like garbage).

The app store is part of the reason I got an Iphone. Sure there are competitors out there, like the Samsung Omnia/Eternity/whatever and the Blackberry Storm etc, but nothing comes close at this point. Sure it costs me 24 dollars a month for a data plan I don't need (Wi-Fi being so prevalent) but it's worth it for the productivity increase. My hope is that G1 will quickly become a competitor and help drive improvements in the Iphone.

[o rly @ Dec 15th 2008 2:58AM]

BananaBoat, that may have to do more with the audience. Most BlackBerry apps seem to be focused on productivity, which makes sense for the group (business users) that it's catered to. Windows Mobile has a bunch of good NES emulators (many being free), yet no official "App Store" either.

[dagwud @ Dec 15th 2008 10:23AM]

I don't know that I'd want Palm putting together an App store. I prefer the flexibility of third-party providers.

But if Handango updated their "InHand" program, we might be on to something.

[loosely_coupled @ Dec 16th 2008 1:00AM]

The app store concept is brilliant, and is hardly just for the computer-illiterate. The centralization of distribution, installation, and updating makes it incredibly simple to find the applications you need, have them automatically installed, and just as import is automatic updating.
I've done the run around with Windows mobile before.. and I will NEVER go back now that I have used the iPhone app store.

Windows mobile 3rd party app sequence:

1) Go through a dozen 3rd party app directories and enthusiast websites to track down an application you may want
2) Decide on application and then go search for the developer's website
3) Add app to cart, and then fill out an order form and billing information to actually purchase it.
4) Log into Gmail for special download link
5) Download application to PC
6) Synchronize smartphone to PC
7) transfer App to Smartphone
8) run installation on Smartphone
9) realize app is poorly-written POS and uninstall
10) uninstall freezes phone, so pull out battery to shutdown
11) turn phone back on
12) repeat

[o rly @ Dec 16th 2008 1:49AM]

loosely_coupled, your method & process is exaggerated and sensationalized. Every installed program freezes during the uninstall process? Your method described isn't even for a OTA .cab install.

[Rollins @ Dec 15th 2008 1:22AM]

"During an interview at Elevation's offices, McNamee declines to say how much share he expects Palm to get, when Anderson pipes in, 'Two percent would be just fine.' With more than a billion cell phones sold each year, every point counts."

Good to know they're setting their hopes high!

[Freakin Ijit @ Dec 15th 2008 8:11AM]

Would be nice if we knew WHEN that interview was held, huh? Half the quotes (or more) in the article could have been made a year ago.

[avirji @ Dec 15th 2008 1:29AM]

About damn time! They've been on Garnet for what -- at least 4 years? Anyway, I hope Palm generates something new and good... (multi-touch device/support anyone?) Hope to see some kick-ass stuff in the next few weeks...

[CaramelZappa @ Dec 15th 2008 2:28AM]

It WONT have multitouch for the same reason the G1 and so many others don't. Apple owns the patent and isn't letting anyone else use the tech.

[MM @ Dec 15th 2008 2:51AM]

I think multi-touch was in the whitepaper for Access. Dunnu if it was ever implemented

[oliver hart @ Dec 15th 2008 5:41AM]

So if apple owns the patent, microsoft is leasing the technology for the Surface? Bollucks.

And I saw multitouch on the G1 demo'd on a vid here on engadget not too long ago

[spyder91 @ Dec 15th 2008 8:47AM]

@CaramelZappa

Apple may have patents on the GESTURES used with their multi-touch system, but they're by no means the inventor of multi-touch itself. It's amazing how many "facts" people make up based one what they see online.

[Hawk Pidgeon @ Dec 15th 2008 1:33AM]

Go Palm, go!!! I love you!!!

[Britt @ Dec 15th 2008 1:35AM]

Palm's last stand

[Hawk Pidgeon @ Dec 15th 2008 1:37AM]

They'll make it.

[terry @ Dec 15th 2008 1:38AM]

they better pull jimmy hoffa out of their ass if they want to survive the fierce hand held media war going on. Apple is the best fucking game in town. And they can compete with the ds and psp. The chip in the psp is 333 mgz while that in the ipod touch is 500+ mhz. So, add a cradle controller and you have a seat next to GOD.
Hero of sparta is as good as the god of war. Yeah baby. the revolution has begun.

[Jack Storm @ Dec 15th 2008 2:28AM]

wow. worst comment ever.

[Abdel @ Dec 15th 2008 1:43AM]

I think that Palm is aware that it needs to bring smth revolutionary and I think that's it!

[Valicore @ Dec 15th 2008 1:46AM]

Palm Nova... how creative.

[Zorque @ Dec 15th 2008 3:17AM]

Valicore... how creative.

My comment makes about as much sense as yours does.

[digitallysick @ Dec 15th 2008 1:53AM]

Dear Palm please make it the following

Touch screen with either on screen or qwerty keyboard. Decent os and web browser. no restrictions, quad band, bluetooth, wifi, gps, and a decent megapixel cam, at least 5 megapixels , MMS and the ability to take video, give it 16 gb of memory on board.

thanks

[ngamer007 @ Dec 15th 2008 2:01AM]

Then I have you have five-hundred ninety-nine US dollars.

[Hardcore @ Dec 15th 2008 2:03AM]

Damn - I hear that it will only have a 4 megapixel camera. Well Palm, thanks for playing, digitallysick has expressed his desires and you don't live up to them - you might as well cancel the unveiling in Las Vegas, scrap the whole concept, and put the company up for sale.

[CaramelZappa @ Dec 15th 2008 2:23AM]

I'd rather have it have a small ammount of memory and a microSDHC slot. (or two) Onboard memory seems to push up the price of devices way too much, and with flash memory constantly going up in GB and down in price, it's just more realistic. I'd rather them make a 1gb device for $200 than a 16gb device for $300.

[Tony @ Dec 15th 2008 2:51AM]

Dear digitallysick,

I, Ed Colligan will halt all Palm products currently in production to build a device that meets your—and only your—specifications and I will do it in time for CES next month. Here are some specifications for the money you will be providing me with for this service. Ten-thousand unmarked $100 bills wrapped with consecutive serial numbers in Christmas gift wrapping paper with a picture of Santa Clause on it. You must also draw, with a Sharpie, a Hitler mustache on every Santa.

thanks

[spyder91 @ Dec 15th 2008 8:54AM]

@digitallysick

Those are pretty lofty hardware requests for what is rumored to be a software announcement. But hey, if there has ever been a time to develop a software 5megapixel (which by the way, adding more megapixels on a phone camera is essentially adding the requirement for a ridiculously small sensor to take in twice as much light to create a "decent" picture, in addition to the plastic lens which likely will cause distortion even BEFORE being caked in dust from your pocket) camera to a piece of software, now is the time to ask, in the comments for a site which they'll never read.

[ngamer007 @ Dec 15th 2008 2:01AM]

Typo fail, should read: Then I hope you have five-hundred ninety-nine US dollars.

[Craig B. @ Dec 15th 2008 2:10AM]

Someone there at Palm seems to be unhealthily out of tune with economic cycles...

[o rly @ Dec 15th 2008 2:21AM]

Out with Garnet, in with Nova. If Palm takes their time and doesn't rush it, this could be very good.

[CaramelZappa @ Dec 15th 2008 2:24AM]

I'm really afraid that they might rush it, though my hopes are is that they HAVE been taking their time and it's near ready for release.

[Pastry Chef @ Dec 15th 2008 2:31AM]

What type of talent has Jon Rubenstein assembled at Palm???

[Jon Rubenstein @ Dec 15th 2008 2:40AM]

I'm not falling for your trap this time Pastry Chef!!!

[Johan S @ Dec 15th 2008 2:34AM]

This phone will definitely suck. The only thing that could save it is going to be if it is priced under $100 with contract. It has to be cheaper than the Centro. Also it better have a full web browser.

[foxx @ Dec 15th 2008 2:36AM]

I think palm should do well..Garnet.though it is old..still has alot of functionality to it....features that are missing in the iphone OS...

[pika2000 @ Dec 15th 2008 2:38AM]

Maybe just the Foleo turned into a netbook? Seeing that Palm is still selling the old Tungsten E2 for $200, I doubt that we will see anything significant or game-changing. It's not like the competitors are sitting still waiting for Palm to catch up, especially in 2009 where Android devices will start to pop out.

[kikiki @ Dec 15th 2008 3:27AM]

its a joke, i think they came up with centro 2 n no wi-fi n no 3g..or alas..maybe they symbian os touchscreen, nothing good come up from palm right now

[agul @ Dec 15th 2008 4:19AM]

Instead of Nova,

They may talk about their Android device: centro 3. :-)

[seanchk @ Dec 15th 2008 5:30AM]

Biggest FAIL ever !

[oliver hart @ Dec 15th 2008 5:34AM]

Thank you Stuart Scott

[Atanas Boev @ Dec 15th 2008 6:12AM]

Their announcement should be nothing short of spectacular, or Palm is going seriously under water. Still, my favorite PDA of all times was Palm, and I really with them luck.

+ Very fast and responsive OS with nice UI would be good. Maybe OpenGL accelerated.
+ Netbook running on ARM - also good. Very narrow window of opportunity before Ubuntu goes there, but still.
- Another PalmOS 5-based device - very bad.
- Another PalmOS 5 device without 3G - lethal.

[The_WB @ Dec 15th 2008 6:38AM]

Palm needs a Grand Slam right now or Palm will fade into electronic history. I hope they can do it.