Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Leave it to Access to completely underplay the debut of one of the most anticipated mobile operating systems of the decade — anticipation that’s certainly waned, but we’re sure somebody’s at least a little excited. ALP 3.0 and ALP mini are about ready for mass consumption, with ALP mini available to licensees immediately, though no word yet on when ALP 3.0 will hit. From the sound of it, ALP 3.0 concentrates on a fancy, transition-filled smartphone OS, while ALP mini is more stripped-down and ready for featurephone use. Both operating systems are Linux-based, with some strange amalgam of Palm OS-ness, though ALP mini drops Garnet compatibility and can’t run native Linux apps like big brother 3.0, which is LiMo compatible. NTT DoCoMo is planning ALP phones in the second half of 2009, that Edelweiss ALP phone for Russia has been outed, and we’re still struggling to care.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Without much fanfare, the Samsung i800 was canned at the tail end of last month. When asked why, Orange simply noted that it was pulled in order to “prepare a more competitive Linux mobile.” A recent writeup at Ostatic takes a hard look at whether this simple withdrawal is really a sign of things to come, and it suggests that ALP could see support fade as the major players in Linux (and maybe even Nokia) step to the plate. One analyst was even quoted as saying that “having Google’s brand behind Symbian could very well mean ‘game over’ for mobile Linux in the mobile phone market,” and we honestly can’t disagree too vehemently with that assertion. Of course, the LiMo Foundation has stated its intentions to not back down from the mighty Google, but sometimes, even the best intentions fall through. Guess time will tell, huh?

[Via jkOnTheRun]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Well, would you look at that! ACCESS has finally landed a whale of a customer for its overdue, underloved ACCESS Linux Platform, the mobile software stack (and sort-of successor to Palm OS Garnet) that has failed to garner enough hardware partners to make a splash in the marketplace thus far. The Japanese firm is partnering with NTT DoCoMo and ESTEEMO — NEC’s joint venture with Panasonic — to build a standard Linux stack that incorporates ALP while still using the carrier’s existing Linux-based MOAP(L) platform. That’s not all, though: they’re tasked with making the new platform compatible with the LiMo Foundation’s specifications, too. A tall order? Maybe, but it’s likely an order that has to happen — NTT DoCoMo’s involved in all sorts of Linux initiatives, and it makes good sense to bite the bullet and have some company tie it all together. The one piece of the puzzle missing here is DoCoMo’s tie-up with the Open Handset Alliance, and as far as we can tell, this announcement steers entirely clear of Android’s domain. Confusing, yes — but for a company used to releasing 23 handsets in one fell swoop, it’s business as usual.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones

Just in case you missed the mention in our post about Palm’s Q1 FY08 conference call, or the earlier report about the company’s new OS getting more delays, take notice: Ed Colligan did indeed confirm that we won’t be seeing a new operating system on Palm devices until the end of next year. Of course, with a track record like this crew has, we’re not holding our breath, and would seriously suggest you follow suit.

Read — Palm admits new OS 18 months away
Read — Colligan Talks About Next Generation Palm OS Progres

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones

Our main man Ed Colligan is on the scene once again, this time giving some serious lip service to investors on the future of Palm and its “upcoming” new OS. According to reports, Ed informed the the crew of dudes and dudettes (via the company’s Q1 FY08 conference call) that the Centro systems team and Foleo engineers are “totally focused” on delivering the Linux-based OS (Palm’s in-house work, not ACCESS’s ALP), and announced that it will be available by the end of the next calendar year. Fleshing out his bold statements, Colligan noted that the new platform will retain the ease of use and developer support of the badly ailing current Palm OS, and that it will enable the company to deliver the UI across various products, including Foleo-like devices. The Palm honcho went on to say that development has gone, “As well as possibly could be expected,” and added that the company has no plans to hand over the smartphone market to anyone else, telling investors that its next generation of products will be “revolutionary device types.” Just like Fox Mulder, we want to believe — but it’s going to take a lot more than honeyed words to hold our interest, Ed. Hey — feel free to invite us over to the pad for some hands-on.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!