Palm Pre Classic emulator demoed on video

Longtime Palm fans are gonna want to lock the doors and turn down the lights -- our friends at PhoneScoop just got the first demo of Motion App's Classic Palm OS emulator for the Palm Pre. Palm OS apps can be installed by just dragging the .prc files over the Pre in mass storage mode, and they're run as though they were on an SD card. There's no tethered HotSync, although there's a compatibility mode of some kind and apps will be able to pull data down over the air. Check the video after the break, including a demo of ePocrates, which we know a lot of potential Pre owners are interested in.

[Tohe @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:04PM]

why would anyone want that???

[CaramelZappa @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:12PM]

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.

[joe23521 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:13PM]

Why would anybody NOT want that?

[lostmotel @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:18PM]

Did you bother to watch the video?

[kjb434 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:21PM]

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.

[kevinm @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:34PM]

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.

[Mycroft @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:29PM]

Yeah, but how many of those 30,000 plus PalmOS programs available at launch are iFart apps?

[Tohe @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:38PM]

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.

[Epsilon-Not @ Apr 2nd 2009 6:02PM]

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.

[p3t3b2 @ Apr 2nd 2009 7:05PM]

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.

[ChillyWilly @ Apr 3rd 2009 1:01PM]

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.

[Colonel Kernel @ Apr 4th 2009 12:19AM]

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.

[DigDug @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:06PM]

Ugh that home screen reminds me of my aweful 755p.

[Verythrax @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:13PM]

That's the emulator home screen, douche.

[ProfessorDex @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:18PM]

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!

[Digdug @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:38PM]

@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.

[Dorv @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:55PM]

I loved the 755p. It was the 700p that I still have nightmares about.

I've sometimes regretted giving up my 755.

[Ryan @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:04PM]

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.

[CaramelZappa @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:07PM]

Nostalgic

[RootAg @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:09PM]

This is going to make all those Sprint/Treo folks stay put, and not jump to AT&T/Apple.

[Adam @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:11PM]

Can I whip out an old stylus and do some graffiti?

[joe23521 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:14PM]

I was just wondering the same...seriously.

[kjb434 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:22PM]

Only if that stylus can operate somehow on a capacity touch screen!

[d503 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:53PM]

I thought I saw an article on engadget about stylii that work with capacitive touch screens...

[joe23521 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:57PM]

Would graffiti still work though?

[George @ Apr 2nd 2009 6:24PM]

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.

[joe23521 @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:12PM]

Hmm...this is better than porn...

[ProfessorDex @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:19PM]

Clearly you need better porn.

[joe23521 @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:06PM]

Okay hit me up with some links.

[Samboini @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:34PM]

Swap the words You and Tube with any number of indiscrimante colours, numbers and abbreviations for pornography .

[Game_playa @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:37PM]

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"

[numerwan @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:14PM]

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...

[Greg N. @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:14PM]

Is it just me or is the Pre really fat? I mean Christ...

[Alan Strangis @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:42PM]

I think it's just you. :) Size comparison...

http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=268

[Beau Giles @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:15PM]

Trying to think of a great PalmOS app.

Failing. Any help?

[bob @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:20PM]

TealOS!

[mian @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:34PM]

Pleco

[mian @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:35PM]

Warfare, Inc.

[Spiny Norman @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:00PM]

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.

[zsmorr @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:08PM]

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?

[norm @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:23PM]

Datebk6 is hands down the best application I have used on any mobile device (POS, BB, WM)

[redleader158 @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:25PM]

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.

[Mycroft @ Apr 2nd 2009 5:35PM]

Oracle

Never make a decision with out it.

[mian @ Apr 2nd 2009 6:15PM]

Yes zsmorr, that's the one.

[lifecurbed @ Apr 2nd 2009 6:55PM]

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.

[Brandon L @ Apr 2nd 2009 8:10PM]

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.

[joshua @ Apr 2nd 2009 10:54PM]

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

[Sean @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:18PM]

This is brilliant! Now I will be able to play Dope Wars for Palm again!

[onurkillinc @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:28PM]

@ 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...

[bob @ Apr 2nd 2009 4:20PM]

So can you run WebOS apps on old Palms?