[Ed Hansberry]

http://brighthand.com/article/Palm_UI_to_be_Redesigned

"A few weeks ago, PalmSource revealed more of its plans for the next version of the Palm OS, which will be based on Linux...Many have assumed that this will still have the same general look and feel as the this operating system has always had. Maureen O'Connell, PalmSource's Senior Director, Corporate Communications recently told Computing Unplugged that this isn't necessarily so. "It's not particularly our intention that MAX "inherit much of the traditional look and feel of the Palm OS" -- while this paradigm works fine on PDA-like devices with touchscreens, it's not as effective on more "phone like" devices -- MAX is intended to address both effectively," she said."

Obviously no one has told Ms. O'Connell that the Palm UI has the zen thing going on and needs no redesign. :roll:

[Ed Hansberry]

http://brighthand.com/article/Palm_UI_to_be_Redesigned

"A few weeks ago, PalmSource revealed more of its plans for the next version of the Palm OS, which will be based on Linux...Many have assumed that this will still have the same general look and feel as the this operating system has always had. Maureen O'Connell, PalmSource's Senior Director, Corporate Communications recently told Computing Unplugged that this isn't necessarily so. "It's not particularly our intention that MAX "inherit much of the traditional look and feel of the Palm OS" -- while this paradigm works fine on PDA-like devices with touchscreens, it's not as effective on more "phone like" devices -- MAX is intended to address both effectively," she said."

Obviously no one has told Ms. O'Connell that the Palm UI has the zen thing going on and needs no redesign. :roll:

[ctmagnus]

What if the new look is the command line? :rotfl:

[Eugenia]

"Obviously no one has told Ms. O'Connell that the Palm UI has the zen thing going on and needs no redesign."

I do not agree with this assesement. PalmOS will see a redesign for its SMARTPHONE version. This version might, or might not have a touchscreen, depending on the phone model used. And if no touchscreen is available, softkeys and soft-menus are required. And this is where this redesign is going to take place. Think of it like Windows Mobile 5 PPC Edition and its addition of softkeys in comparison to WinMob2003SE.

And please remember that when we are talking about the PalmOS-Linux version, it is NOT what PalmOne will use for its Treos. Palm is not interested in the PalmOS-Linux version (that the redesign is taking place for), only their current one PalmOS 5.x.

The phones that will run PalmLinux (if any), won't look like Treos, but more like Nokia's Symbian S60 phones. That's the goal of PalmSource for their new generation phone products. Touchscreens won't be the norm in these new Palmsource products.

[huangzhinong]

Without both core and face changed, why it is still called Palm OS? Will they call a Pocket Pc with StyleTap bundled a Palm OS machine?

So confusing.

[wshwe]

These phones will succeed outside the US, but not in the US. I doubt Palm is interested in selling these keyboard-less smartphones.

[Eugenia]

Palmsource's new PalmOS-Linux is mostly targetting Asia, yes. Not USA. Even Europe is right at the edge of their scope. Palm/One does not have any interest in PalmOS-Linux.

[ADBrown]

Originally Posted by huangzhinong

Without both core and face changed, why it is still called Palm OS?

It won't be. Currently, it's called Access Linux Platform. They're going to come out with another name once it's ready to actually ship to licensees.

[Eugenia]

Exactly. The old PalmOS applications will run via an emulation layer, IF that even ever happens.

[Ed Hansberry]

Originally Posted by Eugenia

Palmsource's new PalmOS-Linux is mostly targetting Asia, yes. Not USA. Even Europe is right at the edge of their scope. Palm/One does not have any interest in PalmOS-Linux.

Eugenia, I think you are a bit behind on what is going on with PalmSource. They were purchased by ACCESS and the entire PalmOS thing (UI, API, etc.) is getting transplanted to Linux. This article is to say that the UI may not make the trip.

This has nothing to do with the linux that they got via China MobileSoft for feature phones with no touch screens or ability to install apps. Read up on ALPS. The best source for lots of info on this can be found in half a dozen sites on Palm OS like Palm InfoCenter.

[Eugenia]

Ed, I never mentioned MobileSoft, did I? Although these are the guys that they will be implementing part of the GTK+ stuff.

>I think you are a bit behind on what is going on with PalmSource.

You obviously don't know who I am. I am a senior editor at OSNews.com and in charge of the mobile news there, but besides that, I hang out with ex and current Palmsource engineers from time to time. My husband is an ex-Be kernel engineer himself and was working at Be just right before Palmsource bought Be.

Yes, Palmsource is porting lots of their existing technology atop the Linux kernel. But the UI and graphics API is to be redone COMPLETELY. It is now using GTK+, not the original PalmOS 6 C++ API (that's a huge step backwards btw as that was NOT the decision of the engineers, but the decision of the Palmsource/Access MANAGEMENT).

Anyways, I better shut up now, because I shouldn't be opening my mouth in the first place. It's just that the ignorance of some people really puts me off and I feel like correcting them.