Sunday, August 27, 2006
Details of the new operating system ALP
The next abandonment of Palmer by PalmSource, and creating an operating system based on Linux to replace what is great news for users. Technologically represents a major step forward, and a great opportunity for the community of free software developers. However, as users of Palm, not really knew what was going to assume this change for us.
The new Contacts native and emulated for Palm Bejeweled2
Fortunately in CanalPDA have published the impressions of a person who attended the recent LinuxWorld event in San Francisco, and it is really interesting. Here are some details:
- HotSync has been rewritten to comply with the standards OMA (ie, the Open Mobile Alliance) and is compatible with the Internet in order to synchronize and make backups via WiFi or wide area networks.
- [...] (The) terminal that PalmSource has in mind as a primary device Destination: QVGA screen resolution (240 x 320), standard phone keypad and preferably touchscreen.
- [...] The launcher applications [...] is very similar to Palm OS: a grid of icons that can be pulsed with a pointer or a finger or selected and activated with the browser from five directions as is done in a Treo with Palm OS.
- The colors, backgrounds, frames and controls all applications MAX used in the device are displayed across a single theme, giving a general sense of consistency in appearance. [...] Are created through scalable vector graphics, so naturally adapt to different screen resolutions.
- Whatever the API for which an application cree, among the four covered by ALP (Garnet Palm OS, Java, GTK or MAX), their icons appear on the same screen, so that in principle mode of development the application is transparent to the user.
- One of the most significant developments that ALP brings respect to Palm OS is multitasking. [...] PalmSource has wisely left to the discretion of each developer decision on whether to improve their applications to operate in the background. Unless they are specifically programmed to operate in the background when you start another application of the ALP are closed, leaving free the memory they occupied, as they do now the Palm OS.
There is a lot more information in the interview, I recommend that you read a whole as it is illuminating. Personally I think that the new operating system will not disappoint us. There are three key pillars that PalmSource has taken into account from the beginning:
- Since there are thousands of programs to Palmer, many of whom have become indispensable for us users, it would be very bad idea not to allow use in new equipment, and as if they were natives. So ALP party with a base of exceptional programs from the beginning, and eventually will be creating software that exploits the new features of the operating system
- The new ALP should resemble a palm rather, since users are the palm because they like. This change will not be traumatic.
- Similarly, users of Palm Eames used to have one program open at once. This is very efficient with regard to resource consumption and is seen going to continue. Except in cases where multitasking is beneficial (for example have a mail program to receive emails, one of instant messaging receiving messages, and an MP3 player in the background). Personally I still think that the modus operandi of Windows Mobile, leaving all programs open indefinitely, is counterproductive in a PDA. And in cases that do provide something, as we have seen will implement this program in particular.
So the overall picture that emerges from this interview is a technological update, but with continuity. I think that is what we wanted users, and will have to wait to see the final outcome to see what they have achieved. However, there is something that I am not convinced Did not get the impression that only thinking in smartphones, the Treo style? How will more PDAs in the strict sense of the word? While we change, why so integrated wifi?
By: Mark Gonzalez Troyas in News
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I feel great but there is a but support of 320 x 240 resolution and where is my LifeDrive, which will only Treos are thinking in a serious blunders do that but I do not Palm extraña.Parece that this company has never interested customers old only focuses on the new but I say who buys their products because the majority of us his old customers begin to see that they are not going to give us updates llámese LifeDrive, TX, T3, T5 and if they do will be in its resolution I always felt it a loss of time using 320 x 240 applications on my LifeDrive not feel that I take the most screen, so you can imagine an OS that resolution I am wrong but this company ever disappoints me most.
Man the possibility of allowing install ALP in the existing Palm am unlikely. As I said the other day, when he left the Windows Mobile 5 PDA with the 2003 and stayed, there was no update possible.
Regarding the resolution, 320 x 200 is where have all the PocketPC. We were fortunate with some of our PDA as high resolution (480 x 320), and it will surely remain so, because when they scalable graphics, you can choose the screen resolution you want. 320 x 200 will be mobile, which are smaller than a PDA.
Palm has made many nonsense, the latest not include wifi in the Treo so that people pay data connections for mobile telephony. But for that we are to choose whether or not buy it. I took a time of year with my E2 has been my only PDA and I am delighted. We will see if the next let me just taste.
You're right in what Marcos as one decides whether to buy or not, but one comes to grip such affection in this Palm OS giving verdarera anger that we do not take into account and see how we move forward rather than back to think not.
I do not think that we are going backwards. The mobile phone in which taught ALP was much smaller than a Treo, which is why the resolution is 320 x 200 instead of 320 x 320. The treo with Windows Mobile have even less: 240 x 240. Since the vector graphics are, they can choose the resolution will come into wins for each appliance.
If you are going to make more phones PDA, until we see its features I will not complain. What if I seem sad is that only manufactured smartphones from now. I want to see if by then also other manufacturers continue to PDAs.
In this change my operating system strikes me as a masterly play. If they all developers that there is for Palm, drifting into ALP, and that ALP is so convenient to use as its predecessor, will not hesitate to make a device with that operating system. Rather than miss Palmer, give thanks for having made the final.
I sincerely hope that your optimism towards ALP is good, really what we want all those who we feel attracted to this system is that the truth is buenisimo except some detallitos, I am one of those who believe that a PDA and a cellular together are better than a llámese Treo smartphone or any other my pessimism is that I believe that Palm will abandon Agendas hand, as did Sony with Clies.Pienso that Palm will only engage the Treos that being honest I never liked her design, I think there are more attractive and economical smartphones wrong and I hope to become a kind Palm TX with ALP serious brilliant because I love Linux, but I see it very difficult because everything indicates that from here onwards everything will be Treo, and I think I have with my LifeDrive last palm that I buy.
I share your view completely. It saddens me greatly that stop producing PDAs in the strict sense of the word. It is more comfortable having integrated into the mobile, but also lose tanmaño screen and other details, like being able to leave the PDA at home and carry a mobile base above you do not worry lose.
Therefore we do not blame (for now) to Palm is because I am afraid that is not his decision to throw only through Treo: fear that is widespread, and stopped to see PDAs with Acer, HP, etc.. We hope to see in what has just the thing…
Regarding ALP, I am very optimistic because they can make an entire revolution… but it can also be the death of PalmSource. It depends on them.
What I am eager to have the SDK of ALP
If frikis linuxdevices.com of reflashing their PDAs and even their Treo with Linux, I do not see why it could not be reflashing the new ALP. If you give this possibility, could find their way much faster than expected.
Of course, that the emulation of the current Palmer should be almost perfect
The emulation Palmer, for what they say, is pretty good. What we do not know what will happen is with programs that are part PC and used "conduit" hotsync. Is also going to emulate the "old" Hotsync?