StyleTap Coming to the Apple iPhone / iPod Touch?
StyleTap, the company that develops a Palm OS environment for Windows Mobile devices, has posted a video of an experimental version of StyleTap running on a iPod Touch. According to the company, the video is more of a proof of concept and not an actual product at this time. StyleTap is also not saying definitively whether or not they will release a official version.
In the video (embedded after the break) the Touch is shown running a variety of native Palm OS applications. Bobby Chew, a developer for StyeTap says "This experimental version can run ARMlets and because of the screen size, uses hi-res (double density) bitmaps and fonts. If Apple's security and application installation and distribution scheme isn't too restrictive, it looks like StyleTap will be able to run the same applications on the iPhone/Touch, Symbian and Windows Mobile/CE platforms."
Since there is no Apple approved method at this time to install any outside applications on its mobile devices, it is likely any release would have to wait until Apple releases their official iPhone/Touch SDK. The model shown in the video has been "jailbroken" in order to modify it to run third party applications. Apple previously promised to put an SDK in developers hands by the end of February, however as of this writing they have not posted any further details.
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YES!!!
Apple's official release of the iPhone / iPod touch SDK can't come fast enough.
Great news!
I'm hoping I'll be able to "buy" a free download for dropbear ssh server/client ;)
questions on my mind:
- 320X480?
- possibility for virtual graffiti?
- network support?
... will I be able to run Blazer and Versamail?
RE: Great news!
Now, what would really get interesting would be Windows Mobile emu on the iPhone. Maybe that's where Apple should focus it's sw work. Palm, WM, Symbian emlation. Then watch the migration. Or at least the lawsuits.
Pat Horne
yawn!
option 1:
iPhone/iPod that *emulates* PalmOS without stylus but only finger taps
option 2:
Palm that *runs* PalmOS with full keyboard *AND* possible use of stylus *OR* finger taps
for now I'll go easily with option number 2.
---
"home is where my computer is..."
RE: yawn!
Option 2: A Treo as your phone (and all that entails), Mixed Bag media playing, and Blazer as your browser.
Apple: No doubt they'll be around next year.
Palm: Nothing *but* doubt.
Apple: Designing what customers want/Listening to them - scoring something like 8 out of 10?
Palm: Designing what customers want/Listening to them - Not for at least 8 of the last 10 years.
(Disclosure: Typed on a Mac, with a Tungsten T2 and a Blackberry on my belt, while my TX sits in a drawer because I refuse to give Palm any more money replacing that tissue paper digitizer).
Palm: Give me a TX with an iPhone-esque glass screen with an un-wearoutable multi-touch display, and while you're at it, throw a mic, voice recorder button, vibrate alarm, and charge/alarm LED back in, and I'll buy another one even with the same antiquated OS. Oops there I go again, thinking I know what I want, better than you do.
"Please Sir, can I have some more?"
It's just that I have a Dickens of a time with my stylus taps jumping Oliver the place, and I have to Twist the case to get it to calibrate.
RE: yawn!
I refuse to give Palm any more money replacing that tissue paper digitizer
Agreed. The stock TX digitizer is pretty poor quality. Did you notice this thread on the topic over in the forums? http://www.palminfocenter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34099
"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)
Things are S L O W
We are left with this garbage.
Vote for John Kerry... best man for the job.
RE: Things are S L O W
You are so hopelessly negative! Have you not seen the four new Centro colors that are on the way? Step back Stevie Jobs, the Palmies are about to camp out over at AT&T this time!!!
Pat Horne
Oooh...
Imagine... >128MB of memory!
-palm the same mistakes with each model, only, just more advanced ones (still waiting 4 cobalt)
Multi-platform applications
Now there is a new contender, one that has be here for about 16 years or more, and can use different codes that even has more years (C, basic, python, etc...), have you noticed that a developer right now can develop one application and it can run on Palm OS inside theres others Operating Systems: Mobile Windows, ALP, Nokia 800-810, Iphone, near future Symbian and on Windows? Yes developing for the Palm OS. With theses emulators: Styletap, ALP Garnet emulator and the Windows Palm emulator the same app can run on all these platforms. Palm OS has bluetooth api, WIFI api, 320x480 screen api, which most others so called Multi-platform still have some problems with.
Things would be even better if Styletap would make it more of a Virtual Player, like in ALP, or like Java Virtual Machine, run a PalmOS app and not even know that its in a Virtual Player, even take advantage of multitasking of the Operating System.
Palm OS is becoming one of the Operating Systems with the most apps (or maybe it is), and compatible with the most Operating Systems. Maybe the Foleo dream is already happening, one app that can run on our mobile device and the same app run on our laptop and the mobile device being the transport of the information or in easier words our documents.
Developers are starting to have there life easier, develop one app, and the final client be happier because he only has to buy one app to work in them all. Change hardware, it being Iphone, HTC, Palm, Nokia and not worrying about the apps he is used too or needs to buy again. I think this is what the mobile world needs, one developing platform, I vote PalmOS.
RE: Multi-platform applications
RE: Multi-platform applications
Java sucks Seldomvisitor. I never used any Java app that have satisfied me.
RE: Multi-platform applications
this crap
What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
really, what Palm app is so critical and irreplaceable that you need this kludge?
is there really not an equivalent app for you via another OS?
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
#2 Palm Mirror
#3 iPhony
... don't make me continue.
Pat Horne
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
MemoPad
SmartDOC (no longer made)
MiniWrite
-- until iPhone devs knock them out.
That demo was a revelation to me. I'd forgotten all about that simulator.
I. Want. It.
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
Automobile: I record every fill up and can determine what gas station has better gas by my milage.
ThinkDB: I have been keeping track of my bills with the same tinybyte since 2000
eReader: I have purchased too many books over the years not to be able to read them.
iSilo: I have reference material that is only in this format.
TealDoc: My fav Doc Reader/Writer
PDA's Past and Present:
Palm TX (Number 2)
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22, UX50
Casio-EM500
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
PDA's Past and Present:
Palm TX (Number 2)
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22, UX50
Casio-EM500
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
-BigClock (free, multiple timers and alarms with the flexibility to have different alarm times on different days without cluttering up a calendar).
-PTimlog (Time/billing tracking software)
-LifeBalance
-MyBible
-PilotDB
-Reminder (birthday, anniversary tracking in a UI I find unique and useful)
-1st AID
-33 Knots
-Astro Info
-PocketSat
-Ballistics
-PocketSharpShooter
-BabyCheck
-Earth & Sun
-Stat Growth Charts
-Labor Timer
-Commute (transit tracking)
-RJ45 (Ethernet wiring)
-Resistor (color coding)
-!!! TideTool !!!
-TomeRaider
-CryptoPad
-PilotDB (tons of DB's)
-BloodPressure Manager
-Guitar Tuner
-Sun Angle
-Thunder
-PortScanner
-Pssh
-SmbMate
-LFtp
I'd have put PalmVNC on their too except that this week I watched a JailBroken iPhone do a great job with LogMeIn.
And I'd put DateBk6 on there but I don't imagine it will be any use on an iPhone without a sync ability.
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
In addition, when I have played with a WinMob device (not a lot of effort on my part there, I admit), I have not been "thrilled" by the experience. I still prefer Garnet with it's limitations to WM.
Obviously the thought of having to pay again for the collection of apps I've acquired over the years will not make me a happy man. So for purely economic reasons, I'd rather just be able to run what I've already got until such time as a truly superior product is offered, something that does everything my current app does and something more that I really need as well. So I consider not having to repurchase apps a distinct advantage of sticking with a solution that allows me a slower migration path away from Garnet apps.
Taking a look at the alternatives:
Apple's iPhone and Touch are options, once they are really open so that I can either replace a few of my critical apps or still use them via something like StyleTap.
Nokia's internet tablet might have been a really good option, particularly since we already know that it can run Garnet VM, but the device is a little too big for me to carry everywhere on my person.
ALP is a quite realistic option from everything I've looked it. But ALP is the software platform, and I'll have to wait to see what shows up on the hardware end of things.
Android? Palm's next gen OS? I don't know enough about either of those yet to make any kind of guess, but I suspect that Palm's next OS will be able to run Garnet apps (similar to ALP; and if Palm doesn't build that in, they are truly crazy).
So now after all that, back to the question at hand: apps.
-iSilo (for the aforementioned reason)
-A really good PIM app like DateBk
-Chinese character handwriting recognition (does this eliminate Apple's offerings?)
-KDIC Chinese/English/Chinese dictionary with the DA to pop up definitions of marked words
There are some others, but I can either live without them or it's my guess that they are readily available or will be in the near future on something else.
And as always, YMMV.
"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
Looks pretty close to me.
Sorry PIC for the Brighthand intrusion but:
T|X and N810 -
http://www.brighthand.com/assets/7101.jpg
Taken from: http://forum.brighthand.com/showthread.php?p=1618784
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
On the other hand, the price difference is not negligible. Up in that price range, I'm going to want them to throw in the phone as well. But at least it is something to consider.
"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
oh come on! mobile word and excel can replace all of those silly black-box proprietary close apps!
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
No. I use FileZ to shuttle them back and forth. I like it that way. When I tested other programs that did read from/write to the card, the time it took to build the frikkin index was ginormous. Ah, yes, now it all comes back to me: the trauma that was Docs2Go!!!
Yeah, so I guess I better add FileZ to that list. Erp.
Gekko: Hello! I *had* a PPC -- Toshiba GENIO. Pocket Word *wasn't* what I needed. SmartDOC is plain doc. WORD was overkill -- and SLOWER!
After typing that original list last night, I remembered that, duh, Calendar & Contacts are PALM apps so probably can't be used. But I was reminded there is DateBook+ and I suppose a 3rd-party Contact replacement too.
Anyway, this would just be a crutch until the iDevs CRUSH PalmOS to death death death. And good riddance!! *mad cackle*
Colligan won't have to be fired or resign. The company will simply die. Buh-bye!
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
GTFOH. The Finnish Abomination is WAAAAY THICKER and HEAVIER than a TX.
tw, don't let him mess with your head like that.
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
i don't like my data trapped in black-box proprietary closed apps.
that's why whenever possible, i use excel/word docs.
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
i don't like my data trapped in black-box proprietary closed apps.that's why whenever possible, i use excel/word docs.
Are you taking the day off? Be sure to hang out the "Gone Fishing" sign.
"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
TX: .61" D
BAH! Foiled by facts again.
tw --> Don't do it!
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
Also, Natara DayNotez. I have 21 years of DayNotez entries that I'd like to be able to access (pre-Palm/DayNotez entries were exported from a Mac application, imported into Excel for Windows, imported into MS Access, and finally imported into DayNotez Desktop - it was as much a pain as it sounds, so I'd like not to have to do anything like that again). Sure, I could keep those entries in a word processor or spreadsheet, but an application designed for a particular purpose, like DayNotez, makes working with the data much easier.
I'm hoping developers release iPhone/iPod touch applications that meet all of my needs, but a PalmOS emulator, if done well, would guarantee continuity.
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
Apple has actually done the bare essentials here: It's just enough different from their original idea of Safari-based apps to qualify as an SDK. And that's all.
RE: What Palm App is so critical that you need this?
This is rather hypocritical of Apple to promote their products for changing the world and the way people work. However, when it comes to developers doing just that on Apple home turf, they will have nothing of it.
If anyone pitched a tent outside of Infinity Loop looking for a job now, I think they be given a trespassing notice and then arrested if they stayed instead of getting an interview. I wonder how many Andy Hertzfields have been passed over because of this.
FYI Gekko
OT: Steve Jobs on the birth of the iPhone
"We all had cellphones. We just hated them, they were so awful to use. The software was terrible. The hardware wasn't very good. We talked to our friends, and they all hated their cellphones too. Everybody seemed to hate their phones. And we saw that these things really could become much more powerful and interesting to license. It's a huge market. I mean a billion phones get shipped every year, and that's almost an order of magnitude greater than the number of music players. It's four times the number of PCs that ship every year.
"It was a great challenge. Let's make a great phone that we fall in love with. And we've got the technology. We've got the miniaturization from the iPod. We've got the sophisticated operating system from Mac. Nobody had ever thought about putting operating systems as sophisticated as OS X inside a phone, so that was a real question. We had a big debate inside the company whether we could do that or not. And that was one where I had to adjudicate it and just say, 'We're going to do it. Let's try.' The smartest software guys were saying they can do it, so let's give them a shot. And they did."
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fortune/0803/gallery.jobsqna.fortune/index.html
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Oh My!
PDA's Past and Present:
Palm TX (Number 2)
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22, UX50
Casio-EM500
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100