Access Releases New Beta of Palm OS Emulator for Nokia Internet Tablets

[Antoine Wright]

Access has released a newer version of its Garnet VM for Nokia Internet Tablets. The fourth version of this Palm OS emulator fixes some minor bugs and address some compatibility issues.

The Garnet VM for Nokia Internet Tablets is an emulated application environment that lets users run Palm OS applications on the Maemo Linux platform. It includes just the default Calendar, Memos, Contacts, and Tasks applications that one would find on Palm OS devices -- like the Palm TX, Treos, and Centros -- and third-party applications can be installed and used.

Garnet VM is compatible with Maemo Linux OS2006, OS2007, and OS2008, which means it runs on the Nokia N810, N800, and 770 Internet Tablets. It supports screen rotation, the use of virtual memory to store software, and the full-screen running of applications. 

For more information and to download this free application, visit the Access website and read the Brighthand review.

 

Related Articles:

• MotionApps Classic Palm OS Emulator for Palm Pre Preview
• It's Official: No More Palm OS Devices
• Access Garnet VM Review
• Run Palm OS Software on an S60 or UIQ Device with StyleTap

[Matt J]

There must be a reason that ACCESS is still developing Garnet VM. This is Beta 4 and they are obviously trying to work out all the bugs and develop a stable product. Any speculation why? Certainly not just for the Nokia Internet Tablets?

[Mi An]

Originally Posted by AWright

It supports screen rotation, the use of virtual memory to store software, and the full-screen running of applications. 

Scaling!--I missed that review when it first went up. I remember when GVM first intro'd how tiny the apps were unscaled. It's too bad they didn't implement a little upconversion tech to ease the pixelation. But considering garnet is finally dead, and this is just a gap-filler while maemo is developed it wouldn't really be worth their time.

I'm not sure I understand Nokia's multi-OS strategy. Is there any relationship between maemo and symbian, or is maemo just Nokia's baby alone? Is there any cross compatibility of apps between them? And Symbian (I gather Nokia is pretty central in Symbian development) itself seems confusingly splintered, with the interface and resolution complications between version of their s60 platform devices. The past development pattern seems so short-sighted.

Originally Posted by Matt J

Any speculation why? Certainly not just for the Nokia Internet Tablets?

The Asian market? I haven't heard of any customers other than Nokia, though I'm not entirely clear on whether MotionApps worked solely through Palm or if they had to go to ACCESS, but I seem to recall that originally ACCESS wanted the platform to dominate in Asia. If there were deals going on in China that didn't affect American or European handsets, would we even hear about them here before devices were on the streets?

[Matt J]

Originally Posted by Mi An

The Asian market? I haven't heard of any customers other than Nokia, though I'm not entirely clear on whether MotionApps worked solely through Palm or if they had to go to ACCESS, but I seem to recall that originally ACCESS wanted the platform to dominate in Asia. If there were deals going on in China that didn't affect American or European handsets, would we even hear about them here before devices were on the streets?

I am convinced that MotionApps Classic is Garnet VM in disguise. When I saw the demo of Classic in action, it clearly indicated "Access Powered"...

[Mi An]

Originally Posted by Matt J

I am convinced that MotionApps Classic is Garnet VM in disguise. When I saw the demo of Classic in action, it clearly indicated "Access Powered"...

I don't doubt the underlying functionality comes from ACCESS--I certainly don't think MotionApps built their own emulator--I'm just not sure if MotionApps is an ACCESS customer. Clearly Palm has already secured some rights, presumably for a particular term, to use garnet in centros and the like. Depending on the size of their contract, I was thinking they might be able to sub-contract a centro simulator without a new ACCESS contract being made.

Since I've never seen MotionApps go out of low-res mode, it's hard to believe they've got the full package and they just gimped it for no reason, so either 1) they only have simulation rights for a low-res device, 2) ACCESS has different garnet VMs and the low res version is cheaper and that's what MotionApps bought, or 3) Palm put their foot down and insisted on low-res only to ensure that old Palm apps weren't as competitive with new WebOS apps. (or 4, there is a high res mode and I just haven't seen it)

Of the three, I kind of lean towards simulation, and MotionApps having no official relationship with ACCESS, but I'm really just guessing.

Out of curiosity, does "Access Powered" not appear on new Palm devices like Centros? I've never played with one.

[Antoine Wright]

A few responses:

I don't remember if the beta that I had reviewed had scaled things or not.*But I do know that it was something present in the last iteration of the beta.

Access' Garnet being available isn't a part of Nokia's strategy. This is Access' doing, and good on their end in terms of testing Garnet and its apps on a Linux base while they are refining the VM. If you will, this is a bit of research and development for them. Plus, its goodwill towards Garnet/Palm OS customers of devices past.

Access powered does appear on Centros.

Edit #1: Palm does own rights to use the Palm OS brand, and the Garnet OS. Its not an unlimited license though. Palm has to have certain additions to the OS approved by Access. Motion Apps would probably be licensing it from Access directly for webOS, or (more probably) are working as a sub-contractor for Palm, where this use/dev of it would fall under Palm's licensing terms with Garnet.

Edit #2: Nokia is a licensee of Symbian (which is now the property of the Symbian Foundation), and the company maintainer of Maemo (its largely community developed and the Maemo organization its partway within and outside of Nokia). Nokia's strategy is to push its S60 use to the mid and low range mobiles and then utilize Maemo on higher end models. If you will, Nokia is openly developing their response to how other mobile platforms are developed, marketed, and then supported by large companies. Its honestly like nothing else in the mobile arena, and from my studies, nothing like anything else in the modern industrial era.

* I may be editing on this one again (soon).

[Mi An]

Originally Posted by AWright

If you will, Nokia is openly developing their response to how other mobile platforms are developed, marketed, and then supported by large companies. Its honestly like nothing else in the mobile arena, and from my studies, nothing like anything else in the modern industrial era.

Do you think it's a good thing? The two prongs I mean. Maybe their tablet sales are off the hook or something, but it's hard to believe their sales really justify a whole new platform with its own exclusive software base to promote and maintain while simultaneously still pushing Symbian at a lower level. Is Maemo so powerful that they think it's got a bigger future than a few tablets (for example, might they be eying netbooks or something?, or considering going exclusively Maemo someday and abandoning Symbian?). And since they're adding in Palm apps to the mix, why not add in Symbian app compatibility? It actually seems like that would be a more synergistic move--where each categories' success helps the other category.

I'm not trying to put Nokia down, but I don't understand their roadmap or what they're shooting for in the long run. I welcome insights though.

[Dick Tracy]

If you reset the Centro you will also see "ACCESS Powered." This is a requirement that was stipulated by Access once they took ownership of PalmSource.

Because there are so many freeware applications available for PalmOS Garnet, it is desirable for low end devices, particularly in LDCs.

It is my understanding there will be a Garnet emulator in ALP, if any devices are ever released with this Access OS.

[Matt J]

Originally Posted by Mi An

Out of curiosity, does "Access Powered" not appear on new Palm devices like Centros? I've never played with one.

Yes, all Centro's display "Access Powered" on bootup. All the PIM apps indicate "Access Powered". There is an "Access Powered" logo on the back of the battery case.

[Matt J]

Originally Posted by Dick Tracy

It is my understanding there will be a Garnet emulator in ALP, if any devices are ever released with this Access OS.

The Garnet emulator in ALP is Garnet VM. The technical details are available here:

http://alp.access-company.com/files/...whitepaper.pdf