Comments on: Palm and Microsoft Announce Windows Mobile Treo

What do they need R&D money for? To discover more efficient ways to forward MS specs to HTC for design and manufacturing?

Background of the Merger

PalmSource’s board of directors has periodically discussed and reviewed PalmSource’s business, strategic direction, performance and prospects in the context of developments in the PDA, smartphone and feature phone markets and the competitive landscapes in which PalmSource operates. PalmSource’s board has also at times discussed with senior management various potential strategic alternatives involving possible acquisitions or business combinations that could complement and enhance PalmSource’s competitive strengths and strategic position.

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Recognizing the maturing of its core PDA business, during the fiscal year ending June 3, 2005, PalmSource began to transition its business model to address potential new growth opportunities in the broader phone market. As part of this strategy, in January 2005, PalmSource completed its acquisition of China MobileSoft Ltd., the parent of a Nanjing, China-based developer and licensor of software for mobile feature phones, a potential new platform for Palm OS outside of the current smartphone market. In addition, PalmSource announced a corporate restructuring on June 29, 2005, which included a 16% reduction in PalmSource’s U.S. headcount. PalmSource intended the restructuring to streamline its operating infrastructure, focus its product development activities and accelerate the integration of the China-based engineering resources into PalmSource’s global product development efforts

Between late May 2005 and July 2005, PalmSource was approached by ACCESS Co. and by a communications technology company, Nokia, on an unsolicited basis, to discuss a potential strategic relationship. This led in each case to unsolicited indications of interest in acquiring PalmSource.

Having received two unsolicited inquiries regarding a potential acquisition, on July 6, 2005, PalmSource’s board of directors approved engaging financial and business advisors to assist PalmSource in evaluating its strategic alternatives. In addition, board members Gassée, Finocchio and Keever were appointed as a committee to oversee, on a day to day basis, the process of reviewing strategic alternatives and to report back to the entire board with respect to material developments and recommendations. The board of directors also subsequently engaged an outside consultant to assist the committee in its activities.

On July 13, 2005, the committee of the board interviewed potential financial advisors to advise the company with respect to the unsolicited inquiries and the company’s strategic alternatives and, on July 18, 2005, PalmSource engaged Jefferies Broadview.

Following Mr. Finocchio’s resignation from the PalmSource board of directors on July 18, 2005, Dr. Shoven was named to the committee.

On July 18, 2005, members of the committee and PalmSource’s senior management met with representatives of Jefferies Broadview and representatives of Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin (referred to in this proxy statement as Howard Rice), PalmSource’s external legal counsel, to discuss the initial inquiries and to discuss a process to consider strategic alternatives. A list of companies that could potentially have an interest in discussions with PalmSource was compiled and reviewed during the meeting. Three companies in addition to ACCESS and Nokia were selected by PalmSource for initial contact by Jefferies Broadview.

On July 19, 2005, Messrs. Nobuya Murofushi and Koichi Narasaki from ACCESS Co. met with the committee, PalmSource’s senior management and representatives of Jefferies Broadview to discuss the rationale and strategy for a potential acquisition.

During late July and early August 2005, Jefferies Broadview was in contact with ACCESS Co., Nokia and three other communications technology and mobile computing companies to discuss a potential strategic transaction with PalmSource. One of these other companies determined it was not interested in considering the opportunity. The remaining companies, ACCESS Co., Nokia, Palm and Motorola, conducted preliminary diligence on PalmSource and held various meetings with members of the committee, PalmSource’s senior management and representatives of Jefferies Broadview during late July and early August 2005.

During August 2005, Motorola determined that it was not prepared to make a proposal to acquire PalmSource, leaving ACCESS Co., Nokia and Palm in the process.

On August 18 and 19, 2005, ACCESS Co. and Nokia provided initial indications of interest to acquire PalmSource at prices in the range of $12.25 to $12.75 per share in cash.

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On August 19, 2005, the committee met with PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview and the outside consultant to the committee to review the status of the process being conducted by Jefferies Broadview and the indications of interest received from ACCESS Co. and Nokia.

On August 20, 2005, Palm provided its initial indication of interest to acquire PalmSource at a price of $11.00 per share in half cash and half stock.

On August 21, 2005, PalmSource’s board of directors held a special meeting at which PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview, representatives of Howard Rice and the outside consultant were present to discuss the status of the process and the initial indications of interest received from the three potential bidders. Howard Rice advised the board with respect to its fiduciary obligations with respect to a transaction of the type proposed by the indications of interest and the standard of care that would have to be satisfied under Delaware law in meeting those obligations. Based on the initial indications of interest that had been received from ACCESS Co. and Nokia and taking into consideration PalmSource’s prospects as a stand-alone entity, the board of directors decided it was in the best interests of the stockholders of PalmSource to continue the process and to provide ACCESS Co. and Nokia with the opportunity to conduct broader diligence on PalmSource. The board of directors determined that Palm's bid was not competitive with the other bids and directed Jefferies Broadview to inform Palm that it would not be allowed into the next stage of the process based on its current bid. In addition, PalmSource directed Howard Rice to begin preparation of a draft merger agreement to present to the bidders.

On August 21, 2005, at the direction of the board of directors, Jefferies Broadview contacted Palm and informed Palm that it would not be included in the next stage of the process because its initial indication of interest was not competitive. On August 24, 2005, Palm provided a revised initial indication of interest at a price of $13.00 per share and on August 25, 2005, Palm was provided the opportunity to conduct broader diligence on PalmSource.

Following the August 21, 2005 PalmSource special board meeting, at the direction of the board of directors, Jefferies Broadview contacted two additional companies, a communications technology company and a network computing company, to gauge their interest in a potential strategic transaction with PalmSource. Both of these companies subsequently indicated that they were not interested in pursuing a transaction.

During the period beginning August 22, 2005, with respect to ACCESS Co. and Nokia, and beginning August 25, 2005, with respect to Palm, through September 6, 2005, the bidders met with members of PalmSource’s senior management, members of the committee and the outside consultant and conducted in depth diligence on the business, technology, operations and financial condition of PalmSource. A draft merger agreement was provided to each of the three bidders during this period. Counsel for each of the bidders and representatives of Howard Rice exchanged drafts of the merger agreement and negotiated with respect to the terms of each of the three proposed merger agreements, including terms related to the potential structures for the transaction, treatment of employee equity incentives and the scope and content of the disclosure schedules.

On September 5, 2005, ACCESS Co., Nokia and Palm provided bids to acquire PalmSource at prices in the range of $13.00 to $14.00 per share. ACCESS Co. and Nokia proposed all cash transactions, and Palm proposed a half cash and half stock transaction.

On September 5, 2005, the committee met with PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview, representatives of Howard Rice and the outside consultant to review and consider the three bids. The committee directed Jefferies Broadview to instruct the three bidders to provide final bids on September 7, 2005.

On September 6, 2005, the committee and PalmSource’s senior management met with members of Nokia's senior management. At this meeting, Nokia presented its strategy if the proposed strategic transaction were to proceed and Nokia acquired PalmSource.

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On September 6, 2005, PalmSource’s senior management and Jefferies Broadview held meetings with senior management of Palm to conduct diligence on the bidder’s business and financial condition given that Palm was offering stock as a part of the consideration for the transaction.

On September 6, 2005, PalmSource’s board of directors held a special meeting at which PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview, representatives of Howard Rice and the outside consultant were present to discuss the status of discussions with ACCESS Co., Nokia and Palm and to review their bids. There was extensive discussion about the transactions proposed by the three bidders, the different structures and consideration being offered, the risks and benefits of each structure and the financial condition of each of the three bidders.

On September 7, 2005, ACCESS Co., Nokia and Palm provided revised bids to acquire PalmSource in the range of $15.00 to $15.90 per share. The proposed nature of the consideration being offered by the three bidders remained unchanged from the initial bids.

On September 7, 2005, PalmSource’s board of directors held a special meeting at which PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview, representatives of Howard Rice and the outside consultant were present to review the revised bids to acquire PalmSource. Further discussion was held about the proposed transaction and the relative risks and benefits of proceeding with each bidder. During the board meeting, PalmSource received increased bids from ACCESS Co. and Nokia and discussed with all three bidders the prospects of obtaining higher offers. Palm did not increase its bid during the meeting. ACCESS Co.’s last and highest bid to acquire PalmSource was for $17.00 per share in an all-cash transaction. The last and highest bid from Nokia to acquire PalmSource was for $17.25 per share in an all-cash transaction, conditioned on completion of merger agreement negotiations and execution of a definitive agreement prior to the opening of market the next day. The board of directors concluded that Nokia had made the highest bid and Jefferies Broadview delivered its oral opinion that, as of September 7, 2005, based on and subject to certain assumptions, qualifications, limitations and factors, the $17.25 in cash per share to be received by holders of PalmSource common stock was fair, from a financial point of view, to holders of PalmSource common stock. Howard Rice summarized legal and contractual issues relating to the proposed transaction, including the status of the merger agreement, the disclosure schedule and closing conditions to which the transaction would be subject. PalmSource’s board of directors then informed Nokia that it had authorized its senior management and counsel to proceed on the basis of the $17.25 per share bid, conditioned on completion of merger agreement and disclosure schedule negotiations and execution of a definitive agreement.

After the September 7, 2005 special board meeting, negotiations continued between counsel for Nokia and Howard Rice concerning the terms of a definitive merger agreement and the related disclosure schedule.

Very shortly after the September 7, 2005 special board meeting, ACCESS Co. submitted to PalmSource by e-mail an unsolicited increased offer to acquire PalmSource for $18.50 per share in an all-cash transaction. Mr. Gassée, members of PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview, representatives of Howard Rice and the outside consultant then discussed this higher offer. It was determined that a special board meeting needed to be convened on September 8, 2005 to consider the higher offer. Jefferies Broadview was directed to inform the financial advisor to Nokia that a higher offer had been received and that the PalmSource board of directors was reviewing the higher offer. Through the night of September 7, 2005 and into the morning of September 8, 2005, representatives of Howard Rice continued to negotiate the terms of definitive merger agreements and disclosure schedules with counsel to ACCESS Co. and counsel to Nokia.

On September 8, 2005, PalmSource received a letter from Nokia demanding that PalmSource enter into an agreement with Nokia based on the $17.25 price. ACCESS Co. was apprised of the receipt of that letter.

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On September 8, 2005, PalmSource’s board of directors convened a special meeting at which PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview, representatives of Howard Rice and the outside consultant were present to discuss the ACCESS Co. $18.50 bid and the demand letter from Nokia. Howard Rice again advised the board with respect to its fiduciary obligations. The board of directors directed management to continue negotiations of the terms of the definitive merger agreements and disclosure schedules with ACCESS Co. and with Nokia. The board of directors adjourned the meeting and set a time for reconvening later that day.

During the adjournment of the September 8, 2005, special board meeting, at the direction of the board of directors, Jefferies Broadview contacted ACCESS Co. to have ACCESS Co. confirm its bid at $18.50 and Howard Rice continued to negotiate with counsel to ACCESS Co. and with counsel to Nokia the terms of definitive merger agreements and disclosure schedules.

Later on September 8, 2005, PalmSource’s board of directors reconvened and was presented with the terms of the definitive merger agreement and disclosure schedule that had been negotiated with ACCESS Co. PalmSource’s senior management, representatives of Jefferies Broadview and representatives of Howard Rice were present when the board reconvened. Jefferies Broadview discussed the financial capability of ACCESS Co. to close the transaction. Howard Rice summarized legal and contractual issues relating to the proposed transaction with ACCESS Co., including closing conditions to which the transaction would be subject. Jefferies Broadview reviewed its financial analysis of the merger consideration proposed in the ACCESS Co. transaction. Jefferies Broadview then rendered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of September 8, 2005, based on and subject to certain assumptions, qualifications, limitations and factors described in the Jefferies Broadview opinion, the $18.50 in cash per share, as such amount may be adjusted in accordance with the merger agreement, to be received by holders of PalmSource common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. During the course of the meeting, representatives of Nokia contacted Jefferies Broadview to inform Jefferies Broadview that Nokia was prepared to discuss an offer that was above their last offer price but was still below ACCESS Co.’s offer. This information was communicated to the board of directors, but no further bid was made by Nokia. By the unanimous vote of directors present at the time of the vote, PalmSource’s board, among other things, duly approved the merger agreement with ACCESS Co. as being in the best interests of the stockholders of PalmSource and directed that the merger agreement be submitted to PalmSource’s stockholders for adoption at the annual meeting with the recommendation of the board that PalmSource’s stockholders adopt the merger agreement at the annual meeting. During the special meeting, PalmSource entered into the merger agreement with ACCESS Co.

Following the special meeting and later that evening, the transaction was publicly announced in both Japan and the United States and, on September 9, 2005, PalmSource filed a Form 8-K with the SEC describing the transaction.

Other Recent Events

On September 13, 2005, Nokia submitted a letter to PalmSource demanding payment of $8,697,595 and stating that Nokia intended to file a complaint against PalmSource in Delaware Chancery Court for New Castle County if the payment was not made by September 16, 2005. The letter enclosed a copy of a draft complaint against PalmSource alleging a claim for breach of contract. In the letter and in the draft complaint, Nokia generally alleged the following: (i) PalmSource and Nokia entered into a purported merger agreement, (ii) PalmSource elected not to proceed with the purported merger agreement with Nokia, and (iii) PalmSource must pay Nokia $8,697,595 in connection with a termination provision in the purported merger agreement. In a letter to Nokia dated September 16, 2005, PalmSource denied all of Nokia's allegations and maintained that PalmSource did not enter into a definitive merger agreement with Nokia. On September 20, 2005, Nokia sent a response to PalmSource’s September 16, 2005 letter stating that Nokia would withhold further action until at least October 1, 2005.

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I'm surprised Colligan was smiling so much at the press conference seeing how Beelzebub Gates just ****** him up the ***. Ouch!

Fo' shizzle ma bizzle

Where they missed out was the lack of wifi in most of their units when everyone else had it in their whole lineup.

--
http://www.arpx.net/article.php/top_10_palmos_applications - my top 10 palm apps

There is no ambiguity about what is an OS and what is not.

PALM has to twiddle coonsiderably low-level OS stuff to get it to work - always has with the TREO line for sure.

I'll stick with my interpretation of his remarks.

Oh don't be dense. So there's no ambiguity about whether he considers Palm OS for Linux to be Palm OS or "another" OS? And your assumption is that Palm just needed to what? Bleed off some excess cash when it licensed the Palm OS through 2009?

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

If Colligan thinks PalmOS and PalmLinux are just slight variations on PalmOS then PALM is in bigger trouble thaan we suspect!

Of course not. But you have to admit that there is some ambiguity as to whether "Palm OS" refers to "Palm OS for Linux" or not. Colligan's remark clearly excludes the possibility of Palm doing a Linux phone using the maemo or qTopia APIs, which don't have all the things that make Palm OS familiar (like the applications, PACE, HotSync, Exchange Manager, Palm Desktop, etc etc). But Palm OS for Linux will have all these defining elements, even if the kernel is different.

Palm is not going to say they are committed to Palm OS for Linux, because in the terms of their license renewal there is no such commitment implied. Just as they conditioned the collaboration with Microsoft on MS giving them room to innovate on top of the OS, there are clearly conditions for Palm's adoption of Palm OS for Linux (the milestones referred to in the agreement). And even if those conditions are met by PalmSource Palm could still decline to use the new Palm OS. They don't have anything you would call a "plan", then, but for several reasons I think it's reasonable to deduce that they are actively investigating it with significant staff and money.

The most reasonable way to reconcile the hiring of all those Linux engineers with Colligan's statement that they are not developing a Linux phone is by recognizing that:

(a) Colligan considers Palm OS for Linux to be more "Palm OS" than whatever he means by "Linux" (which by the way is *not* an operating system), and

(b) Palm thinks Palm OS for Linux is worth investing some R&D in.

Here are how the job descriptions for several positions currently on the Palm site start out:

"Linux Engineer, Mobile Handset....As a Linux Engineer, you will play a key role in the architecture, design and implementation of enabling technologies for a new generation of Palm devices."

"Senior Linux Software Engineer....As the Senior Software Engineer, you will play a key role in the architecture, design and implementation of enabling technologies for a new generation of Palm devices."

Several other positions require

"Significant project experience developing software for Palm OS or UNIX/Linux"

or

1 year of experience in developing or testing device drivers (Linux preferably)

Maybe you can, but I don't know how to make sense of this except to conclude they are actively investigating Palm OS for Linux as a future smartphone platform.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

He also denied any Symbian or Linux Treo.

Surur

What does this say about The Next Great Thing outta ACCESS/PSRC?

You might as well ask a Yankees fan how he felt about the Red Sox winning the World Series last year.

-David

Visit me on the web at
http://www.permanent4.com/

How about OS 4.1 with a nice, high-contrast monochrome screen, AA cells and Graffiti 1!

Or maybe they renewed their license purely as a sentimental gesture toward PalmSource. Shareholders love that kind of thing.

Boy, it's hard to say.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

Not sure what that was in response to, but I agree that it's faster and easier to develop .NET applications than Palm OS C API apps if you don't have a good bag of tricks already assembled for doing Palm development.

If you want a high-level language with object-orientation and good access to the underlying system you should take a look at SuperWaba, though. You can use any Java development environment (like Eclipse) then sell your apps to both Palm and Windows Mobile users (as well as Linux and Symbian Series 80).

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

From my experiences, the Palm OS constistently wins the best user experience award over Windows Mobile applications. The user interface is the only aspect that truly matters.

I am a contractor for a large healthcare technologies company. Our contracting team developed a Palm OS client (CodeWarrior C++) and employees developed the Windows Mobile client (.NET and SQL Server CE) of a handheld application for hospitals.

The Palm OS client starts instantaneously, completes form transitions in less than a second, uses custom drawing in table controls to ensure neat row/column displays and fully supports five-way navigation and rectangular (portrait/landscape) screen displays.

The Windows Mobile client takes five to ten seconds TO START, completes form transitions in one to five seconds, creates jagged and improperly sized rows and columns in its “automatic” table control and does not support five-way navigation or portrait/landscape screen layouts.

However, in the interest of full disclosure, this Palm OS developer of five years started learning Windows Mobile and .NET Compact Framework development last week. After Colligan and company effectively announced the death of the Palm OS today, I have a lot of catching up to do. My first challenge will be making Windows Mobile applications that match or beat the user interface experience and performance of Palm OS applications. It's a tall order...

So that's two checks against the Windows Mobile Treo with the kind of business clients my company writes custom applications for.

The average PIC poster screams that "Palm OS is dead" but what they're really saying is that they think they won't get the Palm OS device that they want in the future. So they project this to the whole diverse market. It's understandable.

Relyons, your company's experience with .NET Compact Framework matches mine. .NET is a very productive development environment, but managed code exacts a performance penalty that can be objectionable to people who are used to Palm OS. Of course, the newer Palm devices aren't as fast as they used to be, thanks in large part to Palm's implementation of NVFS. Also I've seen the specs on Windows Mobile 5.0 and it looks like they've done a lot to improve performance of managed code. So unfortunately I don't think snappy performance in business applications is a selling point for Palm OS anymore.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

You are describing many people's LifeDrive experience. Do you know what the recommended procedure for upgrading to a LifeDrive is. First you need to delete your backup folder, and then install software one at a time, run if for a few days to assess stability, and then add the next piece of software. Rinse and repeat. Also keep a backup of your preference database on a storage card, as these are prone to disappearing. Two weeks later, once you have run out of your return period it will lock up and die. Return your paperweight to Palm. Start over again.

Surur

I just feel like we were portrayed by Palm.

"For now, Palm remains the simpler, faster choice. But if Microsoft keeps plugging away, that won't be the case forever."

There still is time for Access to save the platform. Their buyout will let this fight go on for a while longer, I hope.

It is this fight (drama sometimes), and the hope for something better that makes following mobile OS world so fun.

As for the numbers, it was to allow them to call/SMS each other on the stage, like Ed's call to the demo guy. I am sure those numbers will be thrown away by the end of the day. It did provide some amusement though to see audience members SMS'ing questions.

Easy, it was running on a modern PalmOne device running a Microsoft operating system.

Welcome to the new smartphone market.

Welcome to the new smartphone market."

EXACTLY!

All good things...

The Missing Sync lets Macs talk to Windows Mobile devices. It's not free, but it reportedly works (and it's actually supported by a company that cares about the Mac platform).

Palm (formerly PalmOne) isn't the one to blame; PalmSource started the ball rolling by stating Cobalt wouldn't support Mac synchronisation:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6547

so if Palm had released a Cobalt powered PDA it wouldn't be able to sync out of the box with a Mac; you'd be in the same position as someone with WinMob where you'd need third party software to sync info between Mac and PDA.

I remember Palm (formerly PalmOne) promised to bundle such software with their Cobalt PDAs to enable them to sync with OS X despite PalmSource's lack of effort in the area. Of course we don't have any Cobalt PDAs to see if it would have worked!

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog" - Dwight D. Eisenhower

http://www.markspace.com/support/index.php?mod_id=2&id=2462&kb_rating=5

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog" - Dwight D. Eisenhower

require us to DRM the thing to sync only to ONE computer
For the record Apple's iSync allows you to sync your calendar and address book across several devices simultaneousy be they Palms, mobiles or other Macs. With a .Mac account you can even sync your weblinks across many different Macs all without any DRM interference. Why should DRM be applied to your own data unless you want it to be?

I think it's unlikely Apple will enter the mobile/smartphone market as it's already a pretty cut-throat market now.

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog" - Dwight D. Eisenhower

By this time (spring '07 or so) we should know of Plinux is a viable alternative. Palm will then either make a serious renewed push with PLinux or else throw in the towel completely and let themselves be acquired, having let their lineup fade away to a two WinMob Treos and a few super low-end Palm-based cheapo PDAs.

Pocketmirror and sync with Microsoft Outlook? Outlook 2002 comes with the new Treo ;)

Surur

If I wanted a piece of sh*t thrown at me, I'd go to the chimp cage at the zoo.

I'm expecting the TX to be as stable or perhaps a tad more so than the T5 with comparable performance--slower CPU, yes, but optimized routines for NVFS will make up for it in everything but all-out video playback.

If there's not another Palm-based Treo in the works, then the TX might be the final gasp of POS. $299.99 makes for a price point where some of us can even stockpile a few for future use!

Also, I always look for some sliver of a silver lining in any negative news. The good part here is that this move finally shows that Verizon (my carrier) is serious about being more aggressive about having "nifty" exclusive phones and being Sprint to the punch. Now bring on the CDMA RAZR!

Palm has obviously realized that the old saying is true... "If you can't beat them, join them".

A lot of developers just got splattered with some flaming sh** this morning. (The ones that "moved too slow" and haven't already ported their applications to Windows Mobile yet.)

I loved the part where Colligan says Palm has been working on a Windows Treo for "years". Yeah - I feel like an idiot for having supported Palm for the past 5 years! Thanks Ed.

I hope Palm's stock price keeps dropping once people realize that Palm will never be able to compete on a LEVEL playing field with the likes of Dell, HP, and all those other Windows Mobile companies.

I wonder if Palm actually thinks their Windows Mobile Treo life preserver will keep them afloat long enough for Palm Linux to arrive?

Fo' shizzle ma bizzle

PIC is a mere shadow of what it used to be, and is sliding ever deeper into irrelevence. 1SRC and Brighthand are the best Palm discussion boards around, and Palm Addict is tops for news.

Funny, but 1src has less page views per day, is less frequently visited per day, and less linked to by other sites. And now they are not reporting on the greatest development in POS history.

Jeff just continues to be wrong, doesn't he. Yet he evokes worship by 1src kiddies such as Jimmie Geddes, Associate Writer at PalmAddict (the kitten picture site) such as this:

This is so Palm users don't feel left out with the whole Windows Mobile Treo, I am re-posting a quote from Jeff Kirvin that I received Friday: "All I'll say for now: There will be a Treo 700p. It will be more impressive than the 700w. " I believe this will happen, and it will happen soon (lets let Windows Mobile users have their moment). Palm users please note his last sentence:) Thanks again Jeff for the inside scoop.

Some-one should really think of the children, and protect them from Jeff's pernicious influence.

Surur

One post (and that also by Joe). I guess if you wanted to discuss the WM developments you have to come to the "irrelevant Palminfocenter".

See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil - 1src - keeping the POS faith

Surur

this is just petty, spiteful, and unprofessional - and not to mention false. kirvin should be ashamed of himself.

You're just as much of a "true believer" as they are, Surer. PALM shares lost almost a quarter of their value four days ago with the announcement that Colligan would share a stage with Gates and they continued to fall today. Where's your comment on that?

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

Plinux? I think not.

(If it is so irrelevant, why do you obsess about it so?)

I'm still waiting for the mythical "color HandEra."

Having been banned from 1src for simply telling the truth (they prefer illusion to despair there) I have a right to obsess as much as I like.

Anyway, its amusing to expose the wooly thinking and pathetic reasoning of their prophets pundits. I thought the Monday editorial this week was particulaly weak in its attempt to explain why a WM5 Treo was the best thing ever for PalmOS.

Surur

Palm (again) make the error of leaving their current customers out in the cold by failing to show ANY signs of commitment to POS. At the very least, they could have issued a press release today announcing the new units (it'd not like they haven't already been leaked all over the web), that a comprehensive LifeDrive patch was forthcoming, and that they are hanging in there with POS and going to support two OSes. A 700p announcement would be even nicer but that's pretty far from likely in my book.

If NOTHING else and at the very minimum, I figure Palm has at leat one more POS Treo refresh up its sleeve...if for no other reason than to get EVDO support onboard and to have a unit w/ the new branding.

The really amusing thing is that so many of you don't have a clue about the real world. This completely warps your perspectives and leads you into blind alleys - yet you spout your pathetic views as if they meant something.

Get a grip.

* Footnote: Isn't that the most beautiful word in the English language?

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can
& Wisdom to know the difference..

or do actually have any insight to contribute?

Surur

I suppose everyone tries to look at the world around them in a way that jives with their preferences. But Kirvin's BS 'logic' reaches a level of denial that borders on a personality disorder.

If his house were burning down, he'd get online and blog, 'now that I think about it, it has been getting rather chilly outside.'

Anyway, I'm glad to read your positive spin. The PIC Forum is just filled with naysayers. I'm going to stop reading comments over there. They are too depressing.

Some people, of course, are too fragile to face reality. 1src suits them perfectly.

Surur

Yes, but I don't know where to begin.

As a starter, stop pressing your nose against a LCD screen for 16 hours a day and try reading some non-CS books. (I can give you an initial reading, but you probably can't bear the humiliation of learning how little you know.)

But then again, I have a life. I guess others do not. How sad.

You may now resume your pointless ranting.

"Many men stumble across the truth, but most manage to pick themselves up
and continue as if nothing had happened."
- Winston Churchill

Yeah, the Kirvin-stalking kinda creeps me out, too. And why they feel they have to report about their peculiar obsession here I'll never understand.

What's funny is that if you stop and think about it, Jeff has actually come to define (in a negative sort of way) the PIC culture. I almost get the impression that folks look to him for cues about how to comport themselves in manner that will be acceptable to the group here. ("Whatever you do, don't act like Jeff and make sure you make fun of him from time to time so people don't get the feeling you're... you know... ")

Say what you will about Jeff's optimism (which I admittedly often share), at least he thinks for himself. I sometimes wonder if that's the case with certain individuals on this forum.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

Jeff K. thinks he's qualified to be a Palm pundit by his years of experience as a PDA salesman at a retail store. Now this by itself is not very strange, many people are a bit grandiouse. The strange part is that the POS community accepts him as such, despite his biggest qualification being the size of his mouth. His track record of being right and being consistent is attrocious. This is a man who started of as a WM enthusiast, became a huge POS fanboy, and will soon now praise the goodness of the WM Treo. It reflects rather poorly on 1src and the POS community that they hold some-one like that in esteem.

Now there is a Cult of Jeff. The scary part is that its filled with children such as Jimmie, Dragonsgames and Legodude52. They look to him to tell them what to think, and then parrrot his views all over the internet. Jimmie is particulalrly sickening in his hero worship.

So if your views coincide with Jeff's I would make very sure that they are based on facts and not wishfull thinking, because thats where the bulk of hiis "original ideas" originate.

Surur

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

Jimmie Geddes

I got a message from Jeff Krivin from 1src about the Treo 700p. He knew way too much about the Treo700 w, spec for spec before it came out. I believe him, and believe that we will have a Treo 700p. He sent me this message, and I posted it at my site on the Treo 700p.

http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=96915

Surur

I can definitely see something like a simultaneous announcement of the 700w and 700p in January but with the "w" being available immediately at Verizon and the "p" version being available a few months later . Since the 700p is running an established Treo OS and will have, if nothing else, a more impressive screen than the 700w, it stands that VZW would want to 700w to have a head-start and gain sales on the M$ factor and the earlier availability instead of customers cross-shopping based on specs & prices.

Surur

I am sure we can all guess what that means...

S***T****F***U

is what I was trying to put in there. PIC's filter REALLY zaps everything!

I think I know who we have to thank for that.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile provides Mac synchronization for Pocket PC and Smartphone devices from Dell, HP, i-Mate, Motorola, Orange, Samsung and others. The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile includes support for Mac OS X Tiger's Sync Services, Entourage synchronization and an all-new architecture that allows third-party developers to create plugins that add new capabilities.
Features - see the supported device list

• Support for Mac OS X Tiger
• Synchronize with Address Book & iCal
• Synchronize with Microsoft Entourage 2004
Contacts, Dates & Tasks
• Connect via USB cable/dock, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
• Mount your Pocket PC on the Mac OS X Desktop
• Import/export images with iPhoto
• Send/receive email and surf the web *
• SyncMinder™ reminds you to sync
• Install Pocket PC apps in CAB format
• Includes AvantGo client *
• Includes SplashPhoto Viewer
• All-new user interface
• Plugin architecture supports future additions

* For Pocket PC devices only

http://www.markspace.com/missingsync_windowsmobile.php
Windows Mobile 5.0 devices are NOT currently supported; they will be supported with a free update.

Surur

Ironically, Palm could still release a Cobalt burning Treo and it would be a catcher's mitt of interest to a ton of folks. Especialyl if the driver and program issues could be sorted out.

mobileministrymagazine.com
antoinerjwright.com

Then Palm can get as silly as it wants destroying the company by diluting any sort of unifying ideas it once had. Where's that "Windows Mobile PocketPC Palm Treo" I heard about?

'Toine - well said!

January 6, 2004: PalmSource releases Cobalt, or PalmOS 6 to its OEM partners. Cobalt is the ultimate Palm operating system. It will finally have real multitasking, or so we were told. Multitasking is achieved by rewriting all applications to save the state to the user is given the illusion of multitasking.

Cobalt must have stunk pretty badly because...

February 2004: Palm CEO Ed Colligan spent several days in Cannes talking up the Treo handheld computing device over its Windows-based competitors. But that same week, away from the massive 3GSM trade show, he was secretly meeting with the enemy.

At a nondescript Comfort Inn a short distance from the main conference center, Colligan and several Palm colleagues held a clandestine gathering with a team from Microsoft that was led by mobile unit head Pieter Knook. The groups took separate cabs to the hotel, met for several hours in a conference room, and then returned to the tech confab as though their rendezvous had never happened.

The secret meeting, to discuss business terms of a possible partnership, paved the way for the developers of the Palm operating system to join up with a company that had once been their fiercest rival.

http://news.com.com/A+tale+of+Treo+intrigue/2100-1047_3-5883320.html?part=rss&tag=5883320&subj=news

I suspect Bill did not court Ed, but other way around. POS's future was in tatters, and Ed needed a next-gen OS desperately.

Hello Windows Mobile....

Surur

Yes, and I'm sure ISVs peripheral makers and accessories makers are going to be pumping tons of cash into developing Palm-related products now the PalmOne has officially endorsed the Windows Mobile platform.

Our Palms might not be going anywhere, but when their batteries or digitizers die, there might not be much out there to replace them with.

Just take a deep breath and remember that the Palm economy is a much bigger place than a few angry, panic-stricken enthusiasts on PalmInfocenter. The cooler heads that have skin in the game don't see the Palm platform going anywhere on account of this news: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=PSRC&t=5d

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

Palm is a sinking ship full of blind, mindless sheep, bailing water with teacups trying to prolong the inevitable!

PalmSource's stable stock price couldn't have anything to do with a recent announcement guaranteeing a buyout at $18.50/share, could it? Nah. Didn't think so.

Thank God for people like Brilliant David Beers to give "angry, panic-stricken enthusiasts" reassurance and direction when the chips are down (and the buffalo is empty).

Fo' shizzle ma bizzle

Believe it or not I am ABD (all but dissertation) on a Ph.D in Economics. I think I should get my money back!

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

Only a certain type of Dogg could take a bite out of the azz of "Beersie" like that! ;-)

What Palm needs is a STRONG 1-2 punch of a Treo 700p with specs at least comparable to the 700w (but with 320*320 in a larger screen size) AND a sleekly designed new upper-midrange handheld--think TX or LD w/o HD-type specs but resembling the V/m500. If the hardware IS impressive, FrankenGarnet's shortcomings can be somewhat mitigated. Somewhat.

I agree! (Especially regarding the Treo 700p, which I think Wall Street would see as more indicative of the future of Palm than another PDA--even one with great specs and a good price point.)

What I'd like to see is that 700p running Palm OS Cobalt. I don't know a lot more than the rest of you about how Cobalt will run on a real, ready-for-market smartphone. But I do know this: there have been a lot of people blowing smoke about Cobalt who have no idea what they're talking about and they have taken advantage of the long delays to create a myth that folks accept for no better reason than that its beaten into their heads by repetition. It'll be nice to see the first Cobalt phones if only to put an end to all the fact-free discussion about it. I am really curious!

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog

How this for realism.

1) The market has already priced in the MS WM Treo, as it has been an open secret, with even analysts confirming it weeks ago.

2) Palmsource's share price has been fixed by the price Access has to pay in a few weeks time.

Spin, spin, spin, like Jeff Hawkins in his grave...

Surur

As such, The Street values PSRC at...well...that fixed price. Minus the uncertainty fudge factor of the deal falling through.

That fudge factor is about 50-70 cents or so.

There's nothing remarkable about anything w.r.t. PSRC right now as far as The Street is concerned.

And, no, PSRC is NOT dependent on any other stock (PALM et al) to get its own pricing because its price is FIXED.

[now if we want to talk about PSRC and what WAS remarkable, we'd have a whole different thread!]

That's true! Stupid! [slaps forehead]

So you'd need to look at Access shares on the JSE to get an idea what the market thinks the impact is for the Palm platform. I can't hit that site behind my current proxy but doodling a bit on my mobile it looks like Access shares today have fallen about 3% as you might have expected.

But this leaves open the question as to why PALM has dropped 23% since Friday? Whoowee! Now there's a resounding endorsement for the Windows Mobile Treo if I've ever seen one!

Ball's back in your court, guys. If Windows is such a good move for Palm why does Wall Street practically scream otherwise?

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com
Software Everywhere blog