Palm's webOS root image leaks out, code enthusiasts reschedule their normal nightly plans

Looks like Palm's webOS Reset Doctor, intended for resetting Pre smartphones with a mangled system, has been outed to the public at large along with a very special bonus for hackers and other programming enthusiasts: a complete 195MB root image of webOS itself. Code-inclined individuals on the PreCentral forums have already cracked open the ROM and are getting an unfettered glimpse at the Palm's new platform, which for the layman means it should open the doors for some crazy Pre hacking and possibly hint, by way of unfinished / unused code, of what's to come for the platform -- and if we're really lucky, maybe someone will be able to look at this and move us one step closer to an unlocked Pre that could jump onto Verizon's network. Amusingly, you also get to see all the comments left by the devs in the code, guaranteeing a few good chuckles from others who can relate. Intrepid computer science-ers can hit up the read link to find the appropriate .jar file or just follow along with all the fun in the forum discussion.

[sinrod @ Jun 9th 2009 9:32PM]

Last

[Lare2 @ Jun 9th 2009 9:37PM]

Last is becoming the new first lately.

regarding the artocle i just want to say the following.


"That was fast"


/me waits patiently for the first "That's what ....... " you know reply

[Dave @ Jun 9th 2009 10:30PM]

thats what she said.

[General_Trelane, (retired) @ Jun 9th 2009 11:14PM]

She said that's what...

[CJ @ Jun 10th 2009 12:16AM]

That's what people say when they watch the sprinters at the Olympics?

[Freakin Ijit @ Jun 10th 2009 6:23AM]

> ..."That was fast"...

First Pre-Trojaned Web Site anyone?

[my "thoroughly protected" PC got nailed by a...Javascript...trojan. What does the Pre use again?]

[Freakin Ijit @ Jun 10th 2009 8:58AM]

Now that a Hello World app has been successfully run, who is going to be first to have a source code viewer for all nonNative applications?

(no, not simply "cat"...lol! Maybe cat piped to a Javascript beautifier? Lots of those available)

[apple nerd without a cause @ Jun 9th 2009 9:33PM]

I wonder if this will lead to root access and jailbreaking to get past web oses constraints?

[Templarian @ Jun 9th 2009 9:55PM]

It would be actually nice to extend the WebOS system. Extending the system with custom API's would be pretty nice.

[Nick Catalano @ Jun 9th 2009 10:16PM]

What constraints? 3rd party apps on here using their SDK act and perform identically to the built-in stuff. I could live with somebody hacking the web browser to allow you to change the font size and some form of on-screen keyboard, but it may be easier to just wait until the Android team has a release out than wait for somebody to hack WebOS for those features

[YOYO @ Jun 9th 2009 11:00PM]

What constraints there pretty much nothing they don't allow this isn't apple other then tethering
palm all ready said there nothing stooping people from making any app they want even an virtual keyboard if they want or even app for tethering


also jail breaking is also only really an apple thing no other phone maker i can think pervent u from running apps
so u have to jail break the phone to run apps apple wont allow to run even though phone can run them

hence the reason why jail breaking the palm is kinda not need as there not going to stop any app from running on the pre

[Jeff Gustafson @ Jun 10th 2009 10:41PM]

No need to jailbreak. The Prē is totally open. All it required was a reboot in dev mode. Once in dev mode talk to the device with a special client that was included in the download package. The client talks to the device using a serial port like protocol. After that, it's like telneting to the Prē. Easy!

[A-T @ Jun 9th 2009 9:33PM]

This was probably not an accident. Think of what is to come from the hacking community & how that alone will boost sales through the roof.

[Indiscretion @ Jun 9th 2009 9:34PM]

Very true....I have until Friday to make a decision on getting an iPhone or Pre...

[GroovDude @ Jun 9th 2009 9:53PM]

I agree, and maybe have some native apps too wooty woo woo

[Templarian @ Jun 9th 2009 9:56PM]

... that comment was at "apple nerd without a cause"... comment system is doing that thing again.

[paul @ Jun 10th 2009 12:18AM]

*Yawn* Android's already done this, and actually PROMOTES being OSS. BFD.

[ananimus3 @ Jun 10th 2009 3:12AM]

Um... yeah maybe. Check out the redirect for:
http://www.palm.com/ROM

Duh.

[Freakin Ijit @ Jun 10th 2009 6:27AM]

> This was probably not an accident...

That might be true. But, if so, it might say something significant about how sales are going since it is SO soon after launch.

[Hel @ Jun 10th 2009 9:47AM]

Amen. The hacking / jailbreaking community is who Apple has to thank for it's much-hyped Appstore. Palm would love to create that same sort of underground development movement for it's product as well.

[sr @ Jun 9th 2009 9:35PM]

Yeah I have a feeling this is no accident. Well let the ROM cooking begin!!!!

[GroovDude @ Jun 9th 2009 9:36PM]

I like ice cream!

[Ryan @ Jun 9th 2009 9:47PM]

I'm dead honest when I say that that was the best comment I've ever seen on engadget.

[WVUTalk.com @ Jun 10th 2009 12:58AM]

LOUD NOISES!

[GroovDude @ Jun 10th 2009 1:09AM]

A single hand that claps, in the dark, cannot be heard. For it, has my baby, in the web of life. -_-

[Poke4Christ @ Jun 9th 2009 9:37PM]

Holy Shiznat!!! I don't think most people will appreciate how big this is. They basically let the uncompiled code slip from the company. You can only get so much from a ROM that has already been compiled to machine code. This makes it super easy to see how to hack certain parts of the phone because you can see how they are doing things. Man, this is HUGE!!!! This hasn't happened for the iPhone, Backberry, or Windows Mobile phones out there and look what was done with them!!!

[commenter @ Jun 9th 2009 9:44PM]

wouldn't having the full source code let hackers easily find ways to steal your personal information or remotely control your phone for malicious purposes? this doesn't make me want to get a pre now.

[Epsilon-Not @ Jun 9th 2009 9:53PM]

If there are security holes, they'll be found anyway. If there aren't security holes, there's nothing to worry about, no matter who has the source code.

Security through obscurity isn't security at all...

[recharged95 @ Jun 10th 2009 12:40AM]

If Palm wants to sell software, this can be a problem.

If Palm wants to sell hardware. Well, like it or not, they just became a Android competitor. For those that don't know, Android is open source?

Anyway, wasn't there another PalmOS coming out 4th Qtr with the Eos?

[ananimus3 @ Jun 10th 2009 3:14AM]

I think Palm gets that. They did next to nothing to try and hide this. (See my re:comment above.)

[Ghen @ Jun 10th 2009 6:50AM]

recharged: Well, the subset of people that even know this exists is really small, so the real implications aren't all that dire for the software business. Companies still can't re-sell the operating system on a different phone due to copyrights. and the number of people who would re-write or use re-written code on a different phone would be limited to extreme hobbyists. So definitely no where near an open source operating system that can be used without google branding for basically free by large phone manufacturers on a large scale.

[Shane @ Jun 9th 2009 9:38PM]

The pre on verizon would be sweeeet.
well this one anyhow, and not one that verizon would take and rape all the features out.

[SiLo @ Jun 9th 2009 9:38PM]

Funny. Instead of the whole scene of aggressively sending out DMCA quoted C&D letters to hacker groups, the new approach is... build a system and then "accidentally" release the root image so that people "just so inclined" can code for you and add new features, not even on your dime to boot.

Make sure your 'leak' coincides with another competitive platform's agenda!

[kosh56 @ Jun 9th 2009 10:04PM]

Seriously? Yeah they haven't released the SDK yet, but they let slip their source code to get "free" development.
I tell you what, some people need to crawl out of their holes.

[Gregory (cielbleu) GALLOUIN FR @ Jun 9th 2009 9:40PM]

...Hard to describe without having phone here...
missing time, need to try the original phone
in my hands...(jumper-capsule talk moi)

[Amon @ Jun 9th 2009 9:40PM]

Endless possibilities! Can we list them down please?

[Templarian @ Jun 9th 2009 10:09PM]

Quicker solution to our tethering dreams.

[Look_Around_You @ Jun 9th 2009 11:30PM]

Looks like XDA-Developers is about to open a branch office in Pre-ville.

[Hel @ Jun 10th 2009 10:10AM]

Without even looking at the codez:

-Ability to get to bits of the OS that are protected by default.
-Ability to run truly native code on the bare metal (not filtered through webOS)
-Ability to bootstrap other environments / different operating systems / porting applications
-Direct access to hardware that is protected by webOS

What does this mean for you???

-Someone will, no doubt, build an application that allows tethering. Good bet that it will function like a 3G / WiFi router.
-This may allow better game development by removing webOS overhead.
-You may end up being able to do some not-exactly-Sprint-sanctioned things with the hardware. How or what is still unclear.
-There will be countless rehashing of the ROM aimed at performance, customization, etc. Many arguements will start over which is the "best"
-You will be able to customize things that Sprint wouldn't officially allow (boot screens, sounds, etc).

[Ellis D. @ Jun 9th 2009 9:42PM]

Was this really a "leak"? As someone brought up on PreCentral, a file in the WebOS Download points to www.palm.com/ROM, and there it looks like you can download this...

Anyway...it still great to see this come out - lots of potential :D.

[Jamesy @ Jun 9th 2009 9:44PM]

heh, first the iPhone gets jailbroken, now all phones are getting jailbroken...

Typical, another first for Apple, congratulations guys, you keep reinventing the smartphone industry!

USA! USA!

[Robert @ Jun 9th 2009 9:57PM]

People didn't need to "jailbreak" windows mobile phones because they weren't so limited. And no one really thought of "jailbreaking" BlackBerrys because they were business oriented (i say were because they've obviously shifted) and business users didn't have a need to "jailbreak" them. The only reason it happened with the iPhone was because it was so limited >_> That's NOT a good thing >_>

[Walt @ Jun 9th 2009 9:59PM]

Haha, I think this is a little more than jailbreaking.

The entire source code of the Pre OS is visible in uncompiled form.

[Robert @ Jun 9th 2009 10:01PM]

@Walt

I agree, very true.

[iancdp @ Jun 9th 2009 10:16PM]

This is what happens when someone ignorant speaks. I have been hacking motorolas way before the iphone and jailbreaking is just a fancy word for basically getting to the root and changing things please do your research before you speak

[apple nerd without a cause @ Jun 9th 2009 10:58PM]

Congrats you have successfully made a fool of your self. You should not have had to jailbreak the iPhone to get 3rd party apps in the first place and still have to jailbreak it to do other things like multitask. Web os should not only have to use html and javerscript for apps it should just be an option

[Ruben @ Jun 9th 2009 11:00PM]

This is why everyone hates iPhone fans. They seem to recreate their own history.

I cant believe someone actually thinks the iPhone was the first to be hacked and unlocked. Thats just sad. Just keep your uninformed comments to yourself and get back to your iFart game.

[darkstar @ Jun 9th 2009 11:29PM]

dude, stick your head back in SJ's butt.
its better u dont open your mouth evaarrrrr again.

[ananimus3 @ Jun 10th 2009 3:17AM]

You are fail. This has been being done well before the iPhone.

I do seem to recall that iPhone was the first time the need was so dire it was referred to as "jailbreaking..."

[ED @ Jun 9th 2009 9:44PM]

I, for one, welcome my future Pre overlords.