Palm Readies New, Linux-Based OS

I'm a big fan of the Treo—indeed, my dedicated business phone is the Treo 700p—but I'm continually griping about the venerable Palm (now Garnet) OS. While I certainly prefer the icon-driven Palm OS to the tricky-to-use Windows Mobile platform, the Palm operating system hasn't had a facelift in years, and it's starting to look, well, pretty quaint. That's why I'm thrilled by news out of Palm HQ that the company is working on a new OS—a combination of Linux and Palm OS Garnet, to be exact, and we could see the first new products as early as this year.

According to PalmInfocenter, the new OS will boast a Linux core and incorporate "aspects" of Palm OS Garnet, although details are sketchy on what those aspects could be. What we do know is that the new OS will allow for simultaneous voice and data, along with improved Web browsing and services for such chores as wireless backups and software/device updates.

The PalmInfocenter editors also picked up another interesting point: specifically, Palm's apparent interest Wi-Fi, a feature that's been sorely lacking in the latest Treos, as well as Palm CEO Ed Colligan's assertion that these new devices wouldn't be dependent on carriers. So...will Palm's new Linux-based handhelds be more along the lines of an Internet tablet, like Nokia's recent N800 Internet Tablet? Stay tuned. Meanwhile, Windows Mobile fans can rest easy; Palm reps noted that the company will still make Windows Mobile-powered devices.

 

Related:
Palm Announces New Linux Based Mobile Platform [PalmInfocenter]
Palm Treo 755p on the Horizon?