I thought Palminfocenter said summer early fall for OS6...dang
Q4 for OS6, but devices based on it won't follow for another several months. Mobile operating system rollouts aren't like desktop releases where hardware vendors start stuffing the new OS into their products right away. This requires months of testing and product development, so that new hardware can be built around the software.
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Kent Pribbernow Elitist Snob, Contributing writer for Wired's Cult of Mac
But, you can't match the versatility, HUGE application diversity and peripherals that you can get with the Pocket PC. Hey, it's all about accesorizing!
Uhm, I just can't let this one pass....
Versatility.... In hardware, PalmOS runs on devices ranging from the Fossil watch to the Garmin PDA to the laptop-like Alphasmart to the as-small-as-a-phone Samsung i500 to the 802.11 enabled Tungsten-C, and so on... Not to mention the uber-devices from Sony.
Pocket PC runs on a bunch of all but identical clones. Yawn.
The PalmOS wins hands down when comparing the breadth and versatility of solutions.
Application diversity?!?! Check out PalmGear.com.... I've never heard anyone argue that Pocket PC has more applications than PalmOS. Really - whatever your niche, there is likely PalmOS software out for it. Lots of it. And don't bother with the '1000 calculators' retort - there is a LOT of really good, very powerful, and very professional software out for PalmOS.
Peripherals? Again - a larger installed base leads to more accessories. PalmOS wins again....
If it is indeed all about accessorizing, you really are hanging out in the wrong camp. (Unless you consider a Today screen theme THAT exciting....)
- chris
PS - I'm not saying that there aren't cool apps, nor hardware for Pocket PC. There are actually quit a bit of the former, and even a bit of the later. But it does bother me when I see Pocket PC fans who's only concept of a PalmOS device is an old Palm V running nothing more advanced than the calendar app. If you haven't checked out what the latest PalmOS apps can do, you are really doing yourself a disservice.
You see.... A PalmSource employee & less than 12 post since September..... Objectivity? Doubt it.
Plus, there's no detail to this post.... What peripherals? Versatility? Gee, Palm OS can run on a watch. Let me hold back my excitement :zzz: Peripherals? Oooh, Sony has a nice, over-priced camera :zzz:
BTW, you want to take a look at a bunch of software clones, look at PalmSource for perfect examples!
I was an avid Palm user 2 years ago. I switched cause:
* The PIM for PocketPC is better than anything for the Palm. Was the built-in PIM, now TransACT.
* Internet related apps are better than Palm. You could surf on a Palm when I bought my 3870, in b/w.
* My 3870 has built-in Bluetooth. No Palm device had that then.
* Memory. Then only 16MB. Only a year later, has Palm caught up with Pocket PC in this regard.
* At that time, superior screen. Palm had color, 16 of them I believe. You could also do real data entry with a PocketPC screen and not go blind. BTW, I have 20/20 vision.
BTW, I'm not trying to bad-mouth PalmSource. They offer a good service to its users. Just do a look-up of PIM's and see how many come-up. Plenty and not many of them are very different from one another.
Like I said, Palm has made some great improvements over the year and I have given credit where credit is due. That's all I'll say on this subject.
Yes - sometime last year the tag popped up to help us PalmSource lurkers stand out. I am an avid Pocket PC Thoughts reader, though I only post on occasion. But, tag or no tag, I have never tried to hide my affiliation with PalmSource.
As for being biased and un-objective... Well, I think you'd be surprised how unbiased and objective I actually am. Jason has met me and we've had some great conversations. I think he can vouch for me - at least as far as my technical and industry knowledge goes. My opinions and tastes however likely differ rather dramatically from most PPC fans....
I wasn't trying to attack PPC - I just felt compelled to step in to correct misconceptions about what PalmOS devices are capable of. PalmOS devices of 2 years ago are worlds apart from what is possible (both in hardware and software) today. There has been dramatic change, and it seem that most PPC fans still have an image in their head of yesterdays devices and applications.... (160x160 monochrome is light years away from todays 320x480 16bit gfx accelerated screens!)
But - I think you will have to agree - the Pocket PC hasn't changed much at all in the past two year's time while PalmOS has been busy evolving out of the dark ages.
I'm surprised that there hasn't been much conversation around here about the newly announced TapWave device. If you haven't seen any of the reports - surf around for them. Where is the PPC licensee with a 320x480 gaming device with analog input, graphics acceleration, and dual SD slots?? All I see in the pipeline are just more clones...
Clones are fine, and have their place. But the world really is much more exciting nowadays than it was 2 years ago.... ;-)
I'm gonna have to almost agree with the PalmSource dude. Three months ago I dumped a Clie SJ30 and went to Axim and thought I'd never look back. Well I'm not looking back -- I'm looking forware and here is what I see: No plans at all for a higher res PPC device. 240x320 is like looking at a circa 1986 VGA .32dpi monitor to my eyes and it's driving me nuts.
Here is my prediction: The first out the door with 320x480, SD slot, and either built in WiFi or a CF slot (so I can just stick my current wifi card in) for $200 gets my money. I could care less who makes the hardware or what OS it runs. I don't want a camera, I don't want a keyboard, and don't want any silly stuff at all, just a basic platform with standard expandability and a good screen.
Eventually someone is going to make that, and for that price. The questions are only when, and who.
My prediction: Palm will make it and it will be announced right around Christmas. I don't care if that prediction is wrong, I just want the hardware.
I am a techy, NOT a brainwashed Microsoft lackey. That being said, I find it ridiculous that the one competitor MS really wanted to set it's self apart from is catching up easily while MS and all of the device makers just sit with their collective thumbs up their bumms.
While Pocket PC devices have stayed very static (big changes being cameras, maybe a built in keyboard on one PPCPE device, and somewhat better screens) Palm devices have changed and been upgraded dramatically. The Tungsten and Sony Clie's are awesome devices. Yet all Pocket PCs are pretty much the same. Add to my complaint the fact that now ODMs are using cheap memory that you can't use the way you should be able to.
The difference was the OS ion the MS devices. That is what truly set them apart. And it looks like MS will loose that advantage as well.
I mean how many bloody years have we been waiting for Smartphones from MS? There is ONE carrier with one device. I say Smartphone is more Vaporware than anything else.
Microsoft needs to wake up and take a sniff. What they smell is the winds of change and defeat, either that or their thumbs coming out of their bumms.
I am a techy, NOT a brainwashed Microsoft lackey. That being said, I find it ridiculous that the one competitor MS really wanted to set it's self apart from is catching up easily while MS and all of the device makers just sit with their collective thumbs up their bumms.
While Pocket PC devices have stayed very static (big changes being cameras, maybe a built in keyboard on one PPCPE device, and somewhat better screens) Palm devices have changed and been upgraded dramatically. The Tungsten and Sony Clie's are awesome devices. Yet all Pocket PCs are pretty much the same. Add to my complaint the fact that now ODMs are using cheap memory that you can't use the way you should be able to.
The difference was the OS ion the MS devices. That is what truly set them apart. And it looks like MS will loose that advantage as well.
I mean how many bloody years have we been waiting for Smartphones from MS? There is ONE carrier with one device. I say Smartphone is more Vaporware than anything else.
Microsoft needs to wake up and take a sniff. What they smell is the winds of change and defeat, either that or their thumbs coming out of their bumms.
I concur. However, that's what a $40 billion war chest affords you. Trust me, Palm is in a make or break situation for it's future. They have some cash, but it's much more valuable than cash is to MSFT. That means no big screw ups and maximizing product releases vs MSFT that can afford 3 revs before getting it acceptable.
My reasons for buying a PPC still make me keep my PPC. That said, this year and the first part of next should be very interesting to watch for both markets (Palm & PPC). We should all benefit from better devices in the end.
PalmOS devices of 2 years ago are worlds apart from what is possible (both in hardware and software) today. There has been dramatic change, and it seem that most PPC fans still have an image in their head of yesterdays devices and applications.... (160x160 monochrome is light years away from todays 320x480 16bit gfx accelerated screens!)
But - I think you will have to agree - the Pocket PC hasn't changed much at all in the past two year's time while PalmOS has been busy evolving out of the dark ages.
Yes, but 2 years ago Palm was telling us that anything more than Palm had then was unnecessary and complex. Once again "you don't need it until we have it." :roll:
Re: Palm Learns To Walk And Chew Gum At The Same Time
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