Comments on: PalmGear Enters Into Agreement With PBH Holdings

PalmGear has announced in a letter to its partners that it has entered into an agreement with PBH Holdings. PBH Holdings is providing to PalmGear secured bridge financing which enables PBH to direct their operations, finances, development, planning and strategic marketing.
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A big step in the right direction.

LotSolarin @ 10/8/2002 4:30:14 PM #
Kenny did a good thing. Even though there are some developers still soured on returning to Palmgear, this institutes a policy that should have always been in place-- a physical barrier between the money meant for royalties and money meant for developers.

Let's hope they continue on this path. Really, things like this are better as a "scared monopoly." I like my search engines and software portals to be comprehensive, but also afraid of maintaining their dominance so they will continue to kiss my butt. :-)

RE: A big step in the right direction.
twalk @ 10/8/2002 5:48:30 PM #
I was for this policy for one reason. It tells developers within one month if PalmGear still has a positive cash flow, or they are going under.

With the old method, if PalmGear had been going under, they could have collected money for a long time, not paid any out to anyone, and then go under.

As a developer, I felt much better about PalmGear after this change was made. (Even though, at the time, PG was heavily bashed in PIC for this change.)


Why can't there be one comprehensive list?

robman @ 10/8/2002 4:48:07 PM #
Palm claims over 15,000 software titles run on the Palm OS, and they're right. What they don't tell you is that you won't find one source on the web that even lists these 15,000+ titles. When hunting for software I check PalmGear.com, Handango.com, Eurocool.com, PalmPilotArchives.com, tucows.com and so on.

Heck, even PalmSource's own list at http://applications.palmsource.com/Software/index.asp doesn't include one of my favorite apps---WordBox.

The lack of a single comprehensive website listing all software titles -- free, pay and otherwise -- is a major limiting factor in the success of the Palm Economy (tm). While I don't wish ill will on PalmGear or any other company, until there is a master catalog all of the various Palm software sites will suffer.



Palm Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/pda

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
Davy Fields @ 10/8/2002 5:02:47 PM #
I don't totally agree..... although such a list would be nice, it's certainly not a nessecary part. PalmGear.com has many, many titles, but the whole point is that developers must submit their own updates. There isn't enough time or workers to keep up on updates and descriptions, all the while well putting out new software.

Such a list would be nice, but I'm personally very happy with what's available now.

-Davy Fields
http://nr70.davyfields.com

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
Massman82 @ 10/8/2002 5:10:26 PM #
Palmgear does have over 15,000 software titles.
It is a little decieving though.

Only about 100-500 are worth their price.
Maybe new OS's will bring better software.

Roman Pedan
Palm V/Vx
Will get a Palm OS 5 handheld

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
Doo @ 10/8/2002 5:11:47 PM #
Window seams to do ok with out one site with all the software titles listed. Yes it would be nice, but it's not going to happen.

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
robman @ 10/8/2002 5:36:05 PM #
The Lindows.com folks offer a very interesting service for their operating system called "Click-N-Run". If you own Lindows (or I should say, a Lindows.com license) you can visit their website and install applications with *one* click. As far as I know this isn't possible with the Palm OS. You have to download the application, load it into the Palm Install Tool, and HotSync. While this is easy for us, it's quite a bit of work for a novice Palm user. (Believe me, I train them)

If there was one comprehensive list and a "click-n-run" interface, novice Palm users (such as those who buy the Zire) could access these 15,000 applications. Right now, most Palm users only use the built-in applications.



Palm Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/pda

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
Massman82 @ 10/8/2002 5:57:54 PM #
I totally agree :)

Roman Pedan
Palm V/Vx
Will get a Palm OS 5 handheld
RE: Click-n-Run
HandAble @ 10/8/2002 11:49:26 PM #
There is an online software vendor that is working on that very thing.. click the link after purchase and it installs the software and sets up the files to be downloaded on the next HotSync.. automatically.

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
Palmcicle @ 10/9/2002 3:00:07 AM #
Wait...I don't know if you are aware of this but it IS almost as simple as "Lindows" to install an app. directly from a site. Select "open from current location" after the download completes, rather than "save"...this automatically opens Winzip and allows you to simply double-click the PRC file...and whamo! Press Hotsync button and your done.

Hope I didn't go too far off topic...

_____________________________
Phew! Whats that smell!?! Did someone Zire in here? Buy Palm stock...it's only a nickle.

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
robman @ 10/9/2002 10:03:27 AM #
Palmcicle:

Ask a novice user to try and install and application on their Palm. Believe me, those steps you described (which most of us tech-experts on this site regard as trivial) challenge tech neophytes.



Palm Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/pda

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
bcombee @ 10/9/2002 7:42:41 PM #
This is actually something that Cambio can deal with--- it could be modified to use a HotSync conduit to automatically pull down descriptions of new software from a "warehouse" site, perhaps only in categories you like. You browse through the list, see user rankings, and pick the ones you want to try. Next HotSync, all the apps are DLed to your device into a "sandbox" category, and you can then use Cambio to try them out, rate them, and delete the ones you aren't going to use.

That would be a killer new-user app!

--
Ben Combee, CodeWarrior for Palm OS technical lead
Programming help at www.palmoswerks.com

RE: Why can't there be one comprehensive list?
robman @ 10/10/2002 10:59:03 AM #
Ben: Great idea. It would aslo be fairly straightforward to write an AvantGo custom channel that did exactly that as well.

PalmGear, wanna hire me to build your custom AvantGo channel? :-)

Palm Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/pda

Wait and See

Mr. Roboto @ 10/8/2002 9:38:12 PM #
Having been burnt once I think I'll adopt a wait-and-see attitude

Hope they got the money...

Strider_mt2k @ 10/9/2002 7:01:06 AM #
I have registered quite a few apps through PalmGear.
I've even praised their great service.

But I hope those developers get their money. To jerk around someone like that isn't good.
Let's hope this change is a step in the right direction.

strider_mt2k@yahoo.com

RE: Hope they got the money...
Kicker @ 10/13/2002 9:49:57 AM #
This their plan on how they intend to repay the developers:

Thank you for your response to my email earlier this week. Our first
priority with PalmGear is to deal with the past financial obligations. PBH
Holdings efforts will be to financially restructure PalmGear, keep it
current with regard to its monthly financial obligations post June 1, 2002
and look for opportunities to further ensure the financial well being of
PalmGear and its developer/partners.

You have the option as set forth below to be paid in full. Unfortunately,
due to the current financial situation of PalmGear, the only way for that to
occur is through an extended payment plan.

As referred to in my email to you, we have three different payment options
for you to select from, any of which will settle PalmGear's obligation to
you, as paid in full, with regard to the outstanding balance due you. This
will only apply to balances owed prior to June 1, 2002. All monthly
balances incurred post June 1, 2002 will remain current. Those options are:

· Cash payment equal to 20% of the Trade Receivable payable on December 15,
2002.
· Cash installments equal to 50% of the Trade Receivable paid in equal
monthly instalments over fourteen (14) months beginning on January 15, 2003.
· Cash installments equal to 100% of the Trade Receivable paid in equal
monthly instalments over thirty-six (36) months beginning on January 15,
2003.

PBH retains the right to rescind the agreement on or before November 29,
2002 in the event that we do not obtain the assignment or waiver of at least
fifty percent (50%) of PalmGear trade liabilities.

Please indicate by November 1, 2002 the option you agree to on the following
assignment by checking the appropriate box, sign in the space provided and
fax to (615) 467-6165. We appreciate your participation in this matter and
look forward to a successful future together.


Yours truly,

Nathan A. Gooden
CFO
PBH Holdings, LLC


RE: Hope they got the money...
Kicker @ 10/13/2002 9:49:57 AM #
This how the yare going to pay developers:

Thank you for your response to my email earlier this week. Our first
priority with PalmGear is to deal with the past financial obligations. PBH
Holdings efforts will be to financially restructure PalmGear, keep it
current with regard to its monthly financial obligations post June 1, 2002
and look for opportunities to further ensure the financial well being of
PalmGear and its developer/partners.

You have the option as set forth below to be paid in full. Unfortunately,
due to the current financial situation of PalmGear, the only way for that to
occur is through an extended payment plan.

As referred to in my email to you, we have three different payment options
for you to select from, any of which will settle PalmGear's obligation to
you, as paid in full, with regard to the outstanding balance due you. This
will only apply to balances owed prior to June 1, 2002. All monthly
balances incurred post June 1, 2002 will remain current. Those options are:

· Cash payment equal to 20% of the Trade Receivable payable on December 15,
2002.
· Cash installments equal to 50% of the Trade Receivable paid in equal
monthly instalments over fourteen (14) months beginning on January 15, 2003.
· Cash installments equal to 100% of the Trade Receivable paid in equal
monthly instalments over thirty-six (36) months beginning on January 15,
2003.

PBH retains the right to rescind the agreement on or before November 29,
2002 in the event that we do not obtain the assignment or waiver of at least
fifty percent (50%) of PalmGear trade liabilities.

Please indicate by November 1, 2002 the option you agree to on the following
assignment by checking the appropriate box, sign in the space provided and
fax to (615) 467-6165. We appreciate your participation in this matter and
look forward to a successful future together.


Yours truly,

Nathan A. Gooden
CFO
PBH Holdings, LLC


A Vote of Confidence

Mead Lawson @ 10/9/2002 2:45:01 PM #
I read PalmInfoCenter's article entitled "PalmGear Enters Into Agreement With PBH Holdings" this morning, and wanted to express my
best wishes to PalmGear. While surrendering some ownership control can't be an easy thing to swallow, it's no doubt a decision Kenny and PalmGear
can live with. I applaud his continued efforts in enlisting help of this magnitude to ensure that PalmGear H.Q.s' business concerns
are indeed "ongoing". I believe this step will help elevate the pervasive sense of confidence in PalmGear among the consumer and developer communities.

Best of Luck,

Mead

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