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Palm's Nova OS now set for first-half 2009

updated 11:30 am EDT, Mon September 22, 2008

Palm Nova OS in Summer 09

Palm might not have a finished device based on its new operating system until several months into 2009, according to statements made during the company's results conference call last week. Although the company still says it's on track to finish its next-generation "Nova" mobile operating system by the end of 2008, the company now gives a larger release window that has extended from the previous early 2009 to the first half of that year, hinting at a release as late as June.

What might cause the slight delay is unknown. The software should eventually replace the old Palm OS but is unusually complex through its switch to Linux, which will open up software development but also requires that Palm develop backwards compatibility that will still run older Palm OS apps.

The software has increasingly been portrayed as the key to Palm's recovery from mounting losses at the company, which has seen its phone sales jump with the advent of the low-cost Centro but continues to face problems with its more lucrative Treo line. Nova will first be aimed at a new class of mid-range phones for Palm, which will be targeted at high-end home users rather than professionals.

 
Previous Comments

A little...

09/22, 12:27pm reply

to late to the game. I WAS an avid palm loyalist but they took to long to replace the aging palm OS. Goodbye palm. Surprised they didn't fold earlier.

bearcatrp

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2005

0

Next year ... excellent..

09/22, 12:49pm reply


,,,just in time to clean out their offices.

ZinkDifferent

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

+4

forget it

09/22, 02:39pm reply

Why is anyone interested in this phone and OS now? One of the worst-run companies still in business. Not even Jon Rubinstein can save it.

Le Flaneur

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Oct 1999

0

A fitting end...

09/22, 02:51pm reply

Palm CEO bulked and laughed at the notion of Apple developing a mobile phone! Now who is having the last laugh!!!! My Palm treo 650 was the worse experience of a mobile ever! To death with Palm!

stainless

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2005

-1

why wait for

09/22, 03:46pm reply

backwards-compatibility? I don't think Palm's WinMobile-based devices can run PalmOS-based apps. And if the new OS uses a similar interface that the original PalmOS used, then it's game over for this new OS anyways.


Guest

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

0

(Coco) Nuts!

09/22, 04:30pm reply

Palm will soon be another casualty of our failing economy. If they were smart, they would cut their loses and coordinate a deal with Apple to lease the iPhone OS instead. It would be cheaper for them in the long run because they could get it out the door before the company goes bankrupt.

TheSnarkmeister

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2007

+1

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