Palm Pre Classic emulator demoed on video
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 2nd 2009 3:57PM
posted Apr 2nd 2009 3:57PM
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why would anyone want that???
Since the Pre's webOS is new, giving users access to the aged PalmOS also gives them access to the thousands of apps that have been written over the years for the OS. Yea, they might be old apps and they might not be pretty, but they work and are readily available. It also eases the transition for longtime Treo and Palm users.
Why would anybody NOT want that?
Did you bother to watch the video?
I have to agree. Compatibility of the old OS's apps is critical to pull longtime Palm OS users back into or to retain them. It also allows Palm to let the old OS die off.
If you have a $100 app. like the medical app, you won't need to fork over another $100 or wait until a WebOS version comes out.
Yeah, but how many of those 30,000 plus PalmOS programs available at launch are iFart apps?
I get its functionality. But I do wonder how many people out there are still using palm OS + the demoed apps? I love the Pre, but it is not like Palm had a tight grip of the smart phone market for the last few years, so a lot of these folks have probably already migrated to other platforms and therefore using newer apps. A push for newer apps would be far more productive, but sure this is a noble start on their behalf.
Windows Mobile and Symbian both have Palm OS emulators- so even if former Palm OS users have left the platform, they may still be clinging to a few old familiar Palm OS apps, so this would help them re-enter the Palm fold.
Why? Do yourself a favor and google "ePocrates", Palm devices are heavily used by medical professionals. Many of those professionals have had the same Palm device for several years. Also, there are Real estate professionals who use Palm devices, granted the Pre does not have 'IR', there are lock boxes which communicate with Bluetooth through an IRDA converter. Last year GE created an app which enables Blackberry's to directly communicate with Supra Key lock boxes, I am sure developers can create a similar app for the Pre. To echo what someone else posted, some of the app's are old, however, many are useful.
Adding another "Yeah!" for this PalmOS emulator app. This is cool to see and hoping that it will work well with the Pre. This may help a lot of us PalmOS users to make the switch.
Mycroft: Actually, I don't think ANY of Palm OS's 30,000+ apps are like iFart, although I'm willing to be proved wrong. The closest I found in my admittedly brief search is a fake fart detection app to pin your own farts on someone else. Equally as useless, but of a decidedly higher class.
Ugh that home screen reminds me of my aweful 755p.
That's the emulator home screen, douche.
And it reminds him of his 755p.......a comment that really is undeserving of a "douche" comment.
Yours on the other hand......prime example for a douche reference!
@verythrax, yes that home screen reminds me of my aweful 755p. It brings to (my) mind bad experiences with the 755p. I don't like the 755p.
What's your problem dude? Of course it's the emulator screen. They cleverly hid that in the TITLE of the blog entry.
My point was, which apparently anyone but you is able to figure out, was - why show a potentially great product with a screen that evokes bad experiences for many.
But let me guess, you drive a Ferrari...with woody sides.
I loved the 755p. It was the 700p that I still have nightmares about.
I've sometimes regretted giving up my 755.
i ahve the 755p, it is slow and laggy at times. and i think this is cool, but i dont have any apps that i need.
Nostalgic
This is going to make all those Sprint/Treo folks stay put, and not jump to AT&T/Apple.
Can I whip out an old stylus and do some graffiti?
I was just wondering the same...seriously.
Only if that stylus can operate somehow on a capacity touch screen!
I thought I saw an article on engadget about stylii that work with capacitive touch screens...
Would graffiti still work though?
The old Palm OS apps have very small UI controls (buttons, lists, scrollbars, etc.) that were made to be used with a stylus. It will be difficult to use these with your finger as the video demonstrates with the medical app ("oops, I selected the wrong one"). And, try doing copy/paste with your finger when your finger is in the way of the text that you are trying to select.
Hmm...this is better than porn...
Clearly you need better porn.
Okay hit me up with some links.
Swap the words You and Tube with any number of indiscrimante colours, numbers and abbreviations for pornography .
I recommend classics such as: 2 HDDs 1 computer(!), Big Graphics Card Piz.. I mean Computer, and my Favorite "Student stays after for Extra Ram sticks"
Thats really fugly... But i guess if you've been married to it for so long, you get used to it... At least she lost the weight... Just needs that facelift...
Is it just me or is the Pre really fat? I mean Christ...
I think it's just you. :) Size comparison...
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=268
Trying to think of a great PalmOS app.
Failing. Any help?
TealOS!
Pleco
Warfare, Inc.
There are numerous applications in vertical markets that are not mass market, but have a loyal base of Palm users nonetheless.
If you're an amateur astronomer, then Planetarium is pretty decent.
Is warfare inc. that one RTS game? I used to have a palm tx and I remember playing some RTS and I had a lot of fun with it, is that it?
Datebk6 is hands down the best application I have used on any mobile device (POS, BB, WM)
Quake port, Doom port, SNES port, LineRider, iPhoneImitation... there's some good ones out there!!!
I really want it to read .cab, .dmg, .exe, and .skp files.
Oracle
Never make a decision with out it.
Yes zsmorr, that's the one.
PDANET
http://www.junefabrics.com/palmnet/
They said no hotsync functionality, but if you can get OTA updates for PalmOS apps inside the emulator (meaning network functionality), and have access to the device's bluetooth in the PalmOS emulator, I can only hope this application still works.
Hackmaster, Docs to Go, Dopewars, several Universal TV remotes that actually worked (unlike those for Windows Mobile now), hundreds of games, and many more for productivity.
I haven't used Palm OS in years since I sold my old Sony Clie and starting using Windows Mobile (back then called Pocket PC 2000/PPC 2003) on my HP Jornada, then my Dell Axim, then my WM Phone.
Looks like I'll have to scour my HDD and CD's for my Best of Palm OS applications. Trust, there were a good amount.
There's no IR so TV remote apps won't work. Here are some I can think of on my phone now I would run till they have their own WebOS version: 1Password, Salling Clicker, SlingPlayer for watching slingbox, pssh ssh client, games like: WordWatch, EDGE, WarfareInc, 3D minesweeper, bookworm, Bike or Die
This is brilliant! Now I will be able to play Dope Wars for Palm again!
@ bob ==> In case you didn't happen to know; Teal OS' distribution was stopped on March 30. You may not even try it from now on...
So can you run WebOS apps on old Palms?