Access Shows ALP 3.0 at MWC

Pat has it right, though, it's been interesting to see Access keep (mostly) abreast of the smartphone state-of-the-art but still have no hardware. With Google Android taking most of the mindshare for Linux based/open source based mobile OSes, it seems unlikely that Access has much of a chance of establishing itself now. Maybe they should join the Android alliance and port their ALP user interface (if that's possible - shouldn't be impossible given the open source nature of Android) and Netfront browser to it. Access would be able to protect some of their investment, pick up Android applications and developers, while providing Garnet app users a way forward.

Unless they get some handsets circulating soon in a major way, it looks like the window for establishing a new smartphone OS is closing (unless you have something new and cool like Palm does) because there's too many already. The fact that there's 6 major ones - Windows Mobile, iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry, Android and Palm - represents a huge challenge to developers, users, and carriers. Palm itself faces a challenge with Pre/WebOS but at least they control their own hardware, have major carrier partners, and have managed to break out of the "me-too" public perception that's been the norm for new products since the release of iPhone.

Look carefully. I didn't notice it until after the post had been published a while and didn't decide to update it because, like, who really cares? But it looks like this new UI has dumped the pull-down menus. That should make Garnet emulation something to see.

And why the hell are these screens never proper 320x480?

Probably because the device from which the shots are taken has a screen with dimensions other than QVGA: try 320 x 640. (And since when did QVGA become the "proper" form factor for mobile devices...? I musta missed the memo.)

And that's not, by the way, "the way" that ALP looks. That's a generic look which would be customized to the needs of the device manufacturer and carrier, as we typically do.

A wise man once said "It's not wise to throw stones from a glass house". Seeing that "320x480" is not "QVGA", you really may have missed a memo. HVGA (HalfVGA)is 320x480 / 480x320, while 320x240 / 240x320 is QuarterVGA. For devices running Palm OS, the HVGA resolution would be considered "proper" seeing that porting 95% of the existing Palm OS software library over would be much closer to seamless.

You may want to get some plywood. :-)

** would be customized to the needs of the device manufacturer and carrier, as we typically do. **

BTW, I understand a reference design / color scheme / on-board apps and all. But, I'm not sure that using "as we typically do" after the folks around here watched Cobalt 6.0 give way to 6.1 which gave way to ALPOs, which gave way to ALPOs2, which has now given way to ALPOs3 ... and nary a single device available for purchase in all those years. "Typically do" does not cause me to gush with a lot of confidence.

Don't get me wrong, if ALPOs ships then I will be glad and would even consider the device. It's just that I gave up and moved on from that a version or two ago. I would love to be wrong and see legacy Palm OS over Linux make it outta the gate.

Lefty, do you actually work for Access?

Pat Horne

The big news at MWC was the general (and ongoing) lack of Android

In contrast to the lacking ALP making any news.

a single new handset shown (which is very little different from the previous one) from the only company that—;with reams of help from Google directly, reportedly—;has managed to actually bring an Android device to market so far, and several other already-announced ones getting pushed off later into the year...)

Android's apparently not as easy to work with as they like to make out..

Please remind us - how many handsets use ALP version 1, 2 or 3?

Well if Android's not easy to work with but HTC have managed to release a handset using it, then what does it imply about the lack of interest in ALP?

That's just NetFront. As I keep reminding folks, ALP is just one element in our product line, the mobile space is enormous and by no means settled, and there's plenty of time. We've been around for 25 years this year; we're set to be around for another 25, easy.

I'm sure they had the same sentiment last year in Lehman Brothers...

Just quit with your glib condescending comments here and focus on actually getting your "wunder" ALP OS away from demos in conventions and into products people actually use.

If this task is beyond you then focus on what you can do, which at the moment is this Netfront browser you keep touting, and spare your investors any more heartache during these difficult times.

What for? They don't know QVGA from a Q-Tip!

Quite possibly more brutally efficient and usable? Highly likely.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

Isn't Samsung the one that shelved an ALP phone within the last N time periods? Maybe it's about to come back from the dead.

Making up stories isn't a substitute for actually reporting the facts, Adama. You oughta make up your mind whether you prefer to be a journalist or an author of fiction.

And, again, you're misstating the facts on your prior gaffe: software is "released" when it is available to ship to customers, as ALP had been for a full year at the time you claimed it was still uncompleted.

At that time, I pointed you to that press release-first privately, to absolutely no response, then publicly, at which point you finally grudgingly admitted that perhaps you weren't cognizant of the actual facts. Nor is that the only time I've corrected you on matters that could have been authoritatively settled with perhaps fifteen seconds of research on Google, I've done it several times, both here and on Brighthand.

Frankly, it makes you come off like a lazy, biased guy who can't be bothered to actually do his work.