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.

[kjb434 Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:23PM]

DUMBASS!

Read the damn post and the read link!

[haX0r Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:27PM]

That is a smart move on Palm's part.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:28PM]

This is a really great App. Would I use it, no... but it's homage to those who spent countless hours developing for the Palm OS. It also allows these companies / developers the opportunity to transition applications - which is key in keeping developers (especially loyalists) happy.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:30PM]

It may slows the new production speed but increases the variation of problems by 35000 +

[Khris Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:33PM]

Tell us how you really feel. Don't hold back.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:42PM]

They say in the video that contacts don't transfer from the old to the new, but I'm hoping that there will be some sort of migration tool to get all my data off my Treo onto the Pre. Being able to run old apps is nice and all, but I'm much more concerned about porting my data.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:55PM]

Wont you be able to transfer all of your contacts via bluetooth? That's what I did when I transferred my contacts to my cars headunit and when I bought a new phone.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:47PM]

www.2Palms1Pre.com

[haX0r Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:53PM]

Pimp that site! But at least get it up and running first.

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

Chattermail.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:56PM]

I just like the interface. Its a Palm in a Palm. Wait...

[Major Payne Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:05PM]

No it's a Palm in a Palm in a Palm

[joe23521 Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:08PM]

No, it's a Palm in a Palm in a palm in a palm, if you're watching this video on a hand held device.

Now I need some Advil.

[JW Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:17PM]

its dead... its dead

[dr steve brule Posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:21PM]

yo dawg, we heard you like exhibits ...

http://www.lolblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/1232579235183.jpg

[bulls96 Posted Apr 2nd 2009 4:59PM]

Im ecstatic with this development!! My question is can we run our PDA NET or USB MODEM apps thru this emulator and tether the Pre? epocrates seems to be able to connect to the internet on the emulator layer, i dont see any reason why we cant tether thru it as well.

[Gibson Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:02PM]

Freaking amazing, webOS automatically has the largest mobile library on day one. Palm went from dinosaur to a genuine mobile god in a few months!

[boom roasted Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:05PM]

*have

[wako Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:08PM]

who the hell was the camera guy? Seems like the person had Parkinson's disease or something. Invest in a tripod please =P

[dr steve brule Posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:23PM]

must ... hold ... back ... michael j fox joke ... ahhh

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:56PM]

This isn't Back to the Future, this is Back to the long dead Past. Palm can now boast about having at least 30,000 apps for the Palm Pre from day one. That just leaves the iPhone App Store in the dust.

[pirate Posted Apr 2nd 2009 5:13PM]

iPhone Killer!

[htowngator Posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:25PM]

I love how the Palm stuff always brings out the Apple fanboy haters.

[Zale Posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:29PM]

My question about this PalmOS emulator is:

Will it INTEGRATE into the Palm Pre's hardware?

In other words: would a program like PDANET for Palm OS be able to take advantage of the Pre's modem capabilities, allowing me to use the Pre as a modem? Or is this emulator basically a read-write emulator.

[tavisjohn Posted Apr 2nd 2009 6:32PM]

OMG... If PDAnet works via the emulator... That would TOTALLY ROCK!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:00PM]

I love the Pre and I'm an iPhone 3G user! But as much as I love Palm's device, I can't help but feel that they've made some very big mistakes in the way they have chosen to market and unveil this fantastic phone.

1. They played their hand way too early! Pre-maturely ejaculated if you will. (sorry that was bad) anyway, as I was saying... Had they chosen to unveil the Pre at this event/point it would have made a far bigger impression on consumers as well as the competition, and would have given Apple far less time to play catch up. Without the kick up the back side that Palm provided, I'm convinced that Apple would have rested on their laurels, and would have never released iPhone OS 3.0 with it's current feature set.

2. Because of reason 1. Palm is under a lot of pressure to reveal price and release date details, this could in turn force Palm to rush the phone to market before it's time. (just take a look at the Blackberry Storm mess).

3. And the biggest problem for Palm Pre is it's inspiration Apple's iPhone. iPhone OS 3.0 has allowed Apple to close the gap on Web OS. And if the rumors of a new 2009 iPhone are in fact true, then the Pre in big trouble! Apple, through out its recent history has been very good at beating the competition. You can expect them to add all the features of the Pre and more. If the Palm Pre is not released before the launch of the new iPhone then things will start to look more and less optimistic for the future of the Pre.

4. As good the Pre is, its still has some weaknesses that Apple can exploit with the new iPhone. *At this point there's no video recording on the Pre, *There's no front facing camera for video calling of chat, *8Gb of storage is just not enough now a days, the new iPhone could go as high as 32Gb?! *Apple could easily add multitasking with new hardware. For the sake of Palm I hope my predictions are wrong.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:05PM]

I created a Palm Pre Wallpaper gallery on Flickr and invite everyone to join and more importantly contribute!! Let's start building an awesome wallpaper pool so by the time the Pres are released we will have plenty of background choices!!!

All submissions must be high quality 320x480 photos so they fit nicely on the Pre.

Flickr: Palm Pre Wallpapers
http://www.flickr.com/groups/palmprewallpapers/

Please share this website to all Pre fans. Feel free to repost this to as many different blogs/forums as you can so we can quickly build our gallery!

I want to keep the group open for submission to all so we can maximize creativity and choices, however your picture is subject to removal if it is off topic and/or not the correct size.

I Can Haz Pre Now?

[libelle Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:23PM]

two words:

SPACE TRADER!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:33PM]

lame

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 7:50PM]

Where's the Newton emulator for the iPhone? Just in case somebody has $100 app stuck on their Newton somewhere.

This PalmOS emulator sure will come in handy if Palm doesn't get enough developers for WebOS. Now they've already got 30,000 apps ready to go. I suppose even that is enough incentive for loyal Palm users to buy a Palm Pre.

[ekary0te Posted Apr 6th 2009 1:38PM]

This pretty much seals it for me. Getting the Pre. Who else spent their early years in HackMaster overclocking their Palm V, playing around with themed UI control, and not to forget Star Trek themed sound packs played through what had to have been a 5 cent speaker? Fun times :)

[JeremyBenthem Posted Apr 2nd 2009 8:21PM]

PalmOS emulation + TealOS = Win

[rtisovec Posted Apr 2nd 2009 9:54PM]

If this emulator runs some of the proprietary hospital software that I need to use everyday, I'm sold. It's either emulated, carry my old Palm with me or buy a Windows Mobile phone and my only current options. I'd love to make the jump to one device to do everything I need.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 2nd 2009 10:41PM]

I have an iPhone 3G and I think it is the best smartphone on the planet. The video just confirms the validity of the fact that there will be no full fledged apps for WebOS hence Palm needs an emulator for their old OS. There is no way that this would compete with iPhone's OSX apps. WebOS looks like a lipstick on a pig.

[dragossh Posted Apr 3rd 2009 7:46AM]

I have Mac OS 9 and I think it is the best OS on the planet. The video just confirms the validity of the fact that there will be no full fledged apps for Mac OS X hence Apple needs an emulator for their old OS. There is no way that this would compete with Mac OS 9's apps. Mac OS X looks like a lipstick on a pig.

[DougB541 Posted Apr 3rd 2009 9:09AM]

Wow. Apple fanboys are just getting desperate to find a reason to hate on this phone.

[loginatnine Posted Apr 2nd 2009 11:24PM]

What's the little dot/hole in the bottom left corner of the phone? is it the mic?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2009 4:28AM]

Looks like a mic to me.

Also I love the idea of running a 20 year old mega outdated but mega fun app like SFCave on this device, just too cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2009 1:42PM]

Seriously, when the heck is this phone coming out??

[revaaron Posted Apr 3rd 2009 9:50AM]

I will have sex with this phone

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2009 11:45AM]

I only care about one app on this emulator: SlingPlayer.

I'm a soccer fan. (And a former soccer blogger for AOL's FanHouse, for disclosure purposes.) A lot of the big European matches during the week kick off in the afternoon here, and I can't get away from the office to watch them -- nor can I use Sling.com on my company's network. So I watch on my Treo using SlingPlayer. I watched most of EURO 2008 on the Treo, and I plan on doing the same with the FIFA Confederations Cup, which takes place in South Africa, this June.

Sling's in no hurry to make SlingPlayer for the Pre. If SlingPlayer works in emulation, however, I will definitely switch this summer. Make it happen, Palm.

[superhobo Posted Apr 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

Yo dawg....

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:04AM]

NEW NEW Picture !!! Palm Pre VS iPhone (by 2009.04.16)
http://www.treo8.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=118611&page=1&extra=page%3D1