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Post by palmt3user on Nov 6, 2007 21:13:44 GMT 1
Yeah, what are yoyofr and company doing?
Porting any good games or something?
Is Palm programming dying or isn´t it interesting anymore for people?
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Post by metaview on Nov 6, 2007 22:59:53 GMT 1
I'm very short of time at the moment. Don't know about the others, but I guess it's the same.
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Post by countbuggula on Nov 6, 2007 23:27:51 GMT 1
I'd probably think it's safe to say programming for Palm is dying though. If you're not already in the scene, it's incredibly difficult just to get the API's and everything necessary to become a Palm developer because it's just not really being supported anymore. Most mobile programmers have moved on to Java or WM, since that's where the innovation is in the market. Plenty of people are making AJAX mobile apps for the iPhone. Look around the internet for independent groups that are still actively developing projects for the PalmOS. Most haven't been updated in years and have been abandoned. Once in awhile some corporation throws Palm a bone and we get something good (Google Maps for instance) but most of the time PalmOS isn't even thought of, much less supported (think the recent Gmail IMAP release).
Metaview and Tinnus stand as about the only people I personally know of who still reliably develop software for PalmOS. You really gotta admire their dedication.
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Post by Tinnus on Nov 7, 2007 1:43:35 GMT 1
I wonder if there's still market though.
Are people still getting new PalmOS devices? I'm Ok for those who have one already but... you know, that's one of the reasons I want LJX to be easily multiplatform, maybe the day it's finished no one has a PalmOS device anymore.
(not that this would be completely bad if it's replaced for something better to develop and run stuff on...)
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Post by countbuggula on Nov 7, 2007 3:05:54 GMT 1
The only market for the PalmOS right now is people who use Treos...and that's mostly made up of people who already have been using Palms for years. There's really no new user base at all. The Centro may change that a little, but since it's just a repackaged 700p/755 I'm not holding my breath.
I still have some hope for either ALP or Palm's new Linux-based OS. I'm not ready to jump ship to a M$ phone, but I'd go for a Linux one with Garnet compatibility in a heartbeat. ALP is especially enticing, with the ability to run native Linux apps, legacy PalmOS (Garnet) apps, and Java apps, but as of yet nobody's actually announced anything with it.
And we won't be seeing a new Linux OS from Palm until 2009 at the earliest...maybe the new Google phone thing? That might be interesting.
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Post by coder12 on Nov 11, 2007 4:37:13 GMT 1
Is Palm Still even Developing Cobalt? I thought they were switching to ALP... The sim was basically the same as garnet. And still Buggy... Poor Folks at Palm...  |
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Post by countbuggula on Nov 11, 2007 19:52:06 GMT 1
It's important to remember that several years back Palm split into PalmSource, which made the operating system, and PalmOne, which made the devices. PalmSource postponed Cobalt over and over again until it became vaporware, at which time they were bought by Access, an Asian company (the ones who happen to make the Blazer internet browser). Access decided to scrap Cobalt and start their own Linux-based OS call ALP (Access Linux Platform) that would include native Linux apps, a Java VM, and an emulation layer for legacy PalmOS Garnet apps. This has since been completed (or reported to be near completion) but no manufacturers have announced plans to release phones using ALP.
PalmOne themselves decided not to go with ALP but instead try to develop their own Linux-based OS in-house. The problem with that is they've only begun work on it and have announced that we shouldn't expect to see a new OS from them until 2009 at the earliest - a full 7 years after the release of Garnet in 2002. That's simply too late - most of Palm's loyal fans and developers are tired of Palm re-releasing the exact same device in a new package and have switched to Windows Mobile Treos or other manufactorers (even *shudder* iPhones). They've had too many years of customers expecting a new device with things like WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, multitasking, etc and Palm completely failing to innovate in any way whatsoever.
Their most recent idea of innovation? The Centro, which is identical in stats and performance (except lower battery life) to the Treo 755p, which is in turn identical to the 700p. And if you ask what in the world they've been doing for the last 2-3 years? The Foleo! All that time wasted on a stupid idea that they ended up canceling at the last minute anyway.
To be honest, one of the main things that keeps me on the PalmOS at this point is people on this website that continue to not only support the PalmOS but push the limits of what the hardware can do (and all in a friendly open-source license). I simply don't think that kind of thing is to be found on any other platform at this time. It's just too bad the powers that be aren't giving us any more power to actually play with.
Just as an idea, here's a list of things (all that can be found on other phones) that are on my wish-list for a new Palm phone:
-WiFi
-Bluetooth 2.0
-Mini-USB connector
-More onboard storage (think gigabytes intead of megabytes...a 1GB flash drive costs 15 bucks at the local store. Why do we still have 128mb in our devices?)
-Multitasking
-Internal GPS (accessible to 3rd party software)
-400+ MHz ARM CPU (we haven't seen an actual upgrade in the phone's CPU since the 650)
-Camera with LED flash
Oh well. A guy can dream, right?
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Post by countbuggula on Nov 13, 2007 21:22:42 GMT 1
To be fair, the guys at ScummVM are consistantly releasing new builds for the PalmOS too.
Speaking of which, I have another post to make...
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Post by coder12 on Nov 17, 2007 18:14:10 GMT 1
-WiFi Been done -More onboard storage (think gigabytes intead of megabytes...a 1GB flash drive costs 15 bucks at the local store. Why do we still have 128mb in our devices?)" Because poeple at palm cant count over 128 lol  (just kidding btw) -Multitasking Check out Saguaro, I can't seem to download it though -Internal GPS (accessible to 3rd party software) Palm has an external GPS... You have a very good point -400+ MHz ARM CPU (we haven't seen an actual upgrade in the phone's CPU since the 650) Can't the intel monohans be clocked to 1ghz? Why don't they fire that sucker up with some huge battery life or something? -Camera with LED flash They need some work on the camera too |
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