What Isn't in Palm OS Cobalt... Yet

Ed Hardy · 02-10-2004, 07:10 PM

There are some fairly significant new features in the next version of the Palm OS. But there are some equally significant things that haven't been changed. And there's one change that Mac OS X users aren't going to like.

Read more at www.brighthand.com/article/Whats_Not_in_Cobalt

questionfear · 02-10-2004, 09:49 PM

i don't completely understand why palm os would discontinue mac os X support...it seems like a bad move, since ppc has traditionally been more difficult to sync on the mac, thus leaving palm os the more painless choice.
yes, its a small installed base but why alienate them? and why make a third party solution? it just seems like bad business.

imported_PDA Guy · 02-10-2004, 10:25 PM

Well, to call the current Palm Desktop "supporting Mac OS" is true, but quite honestly its awful. If Apple would roll in Memo support into an iSync supported app, then we could (mercifully) kill off the cruelty that is Palm Desktop.

Of course, that said, Apple needs to either take over or replace the HotSync technology, now that it looks like PalmSource is tossing it in File 13.

imported_iNOMAD · 02-10-2004, 10:43 PM

i dont recall seing vga support or hard drive support. Also, palmsource neglected to mention any upgradability to cobalt from os5 handhelds.

No mac support? I dont use mac (or like it) but i think that palm os should support mac os x.3 sync. Can't mac users have a pda, too?

Palm cobalt doenst have a file manager? I thought os6 would bring native file support within the os/ram. Another severe downside to os6.

WM2004, please impress us all with your vga, landscape, harddrives, and native file support.

At least when microsoft tries to dominate an industry or 2, they give users some great technology. Palmsource still is making their os far to similar to os4/5. Os6 should really be called os 5.5.

sandshark · 02-10-2004, 11:04 PM

This is pretty disappointing news from PalmSource. No updated UI and dropping Mac OS support -- who needs you. I've been holding out converting over to the PPC, as I had a lot of faith in POS, but that looks like it vanished today.

The funny thing is that multitasking, etc, isn't that important to me. I need my pda to excel at doing basic apps extremely well. And having a modern and dynamic UI is key. The thing that is fantastic about Pocket Excel isn't the compatability, it's the great look and feel.

Apple has really been winning me this year and I finally indulged myself and got a Ipod & IBook. And I've been loving it. Mac support was a great reason to keep loyal to Palm.

The only thing they have going for them now is 320x480 support; and Microsoft might have that beat by the end of the year. I'm sure MissingSync does just as well against a PPC as it will POS 6.

Scott R · 02-11-2004, 01:22 PM

Rather disappointing. Multitasking is clearly a big deal, though it's unfortunate that us Zodiac users likely won't be able to upgrade to it. Regarding the lack of organization of files and offering support for any file type, I think that's probably the biggest weakness. The simpler architecture worked fine when we were talking about a 512KB non-expandable PDA, but now we've got 128MB Zodiacs with dual SD expansion and SD cards are a gigabyte. This needs to be addressed quickly.

The one thing PalmSource has in their favor is that MS has lost interest in the PPC platform and doesn't seem to be doing much to fix the UI and other issues.

Scott

rsc1000 · 02-11-2004, 04:05 PM

>>Also, palmsource neglected to mention any upgradability to cobalt from os5 handhelds.

Honestly - do any of you read anything?
Regarding your disapointment about palmsource not giving upgrades to existing OS 5 devices:

PALMSOURCE HAS SAID 5000 TIMES THAT IT IS UP TO THE DEVICE MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE FREE TO OFFER AN UPGRADE EITHER FOR A PRICE OR FOR FREE OR WHATEVER!!!

If i hear one more wasted comment about this from a palmOne, Tapwave or Sony user who is too damned lazzy to read and would rather complain (with no basis for the complaint) - i am going to flip out!

>>i dont recall seing vga support or hard drive support.

You - like Brighthand itself in its opening coverage yesterday - couldn't be bothered to read all of the press release from palmsource:

" The new graphics system is designed to support screen sizes up to 32,000 by 32,000 pixels! "

As for hard drive support - OEMS can add this now and make it accessable though VFS just like any other expansion media.

Duh! So whats yr snappy comeback to the fact that most of the above complaints are JUST PLAIN WRONG! Yes - i agree that PalmSource should have greatly improved/revamped the filesyetm and added a filemanger to the launcher (or as an app as part of the OS). Those are valid criticisms. So lets keep things to an educated level of dialog - shall we?

MacTechBri · 02-11-2004, 04:18 PM

If palm thinks or knows about any plans Apple has for a PDA (wish, wish), they could just stop wasting money on further production of that product. You know what ever Apple does will blow palm out of the water.
Now palm will not be making any more money off of this mac user regardless. It wont be pocket pc either. But when it becomes time to replace my Samsung pda cellphone combo, I will be looking elswhere. Thats pretty lame what they've done.

MTB

rsc1000 · 02-11-2004, 04:22 PM

>>You know what ever Apple does will blow palm out of the water.

Errr - like the Newton? It was great PDA (too large to be considered a PDA) but it failed for a number of rewasons. Palm got it right and the rest is history.

MacTechBri · 02-11-2004, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rsc1000
>>Errr - like the Newton? It was great PDA (too large to be considered a PDA) but it failed for a number of rewasons. Palm got it right and the rest is history.

Yeah but it was a couple of years older than the palm too. What do you think it would look like now?

MTB