Palm OS 4.1 Upgrade is Now Available

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:14:47 AM

As expected, Palm has made available an upgrade to Palm OS 4.1. The Palm OS Upgrade with Mobile Connectivity is available in CD-ROM format for $39.95 at the Palm Store. Handango is also offering the upgrade CD.

According to a Palm spokesperson, the upgrade to OS 4.1 will be free to current users of Palm OS 4.0 though Palm hasn't officially announced this.

This upgrade program is only for Palm-branded handhelds. Other licensees are responsible for releasing their own. The Palm OS® upgrade CD comes in desktop versions for both Windows and Mac.

The older Palm models that can be upgraded to OS 4.1 include the whole V series, the Palm III, IIIx, IIIxe, and IIIc. The IIIe and m100 series do not have flashable ROM and the Palm VII series doesn't have enough room in its ROM for OS 4.1.

The new features in OS 4.1 for OS 3.5 users include the Mobile Connectivity Kit, which allows the handheld to connect to the Internet with a mobile phone. It also includes the Note Pad app for scribbling notes directly on the screen and improved alarm controls. The on-screen keyboard has also been improved.

Many of the new functions in OS 4 are hardware-related and won't affect older models that lack the hardware involved.

The only differences between Palm OS 4.0 and 4.1 are bug fixes.

Related Articles:

Article Comments

 (54 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down View Full Comment Thread

WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 11:49:39 AM #
Hmmm how come Palm can upgrade OS with a $30 cd yet sony requires you to send the pda to them for 2 days and then pay $20 more?

What is the Sony masterplan? This can be done and has been done by users themselves so what gives?

And to anyone thinking about paying $30 for bug fixes.....not worth it, a free way will become available like it happened for the Clie.
Sit back relax and wait a bit, Palm users & Clie users unite. Lets all stop this crazy trend that these companies are developing.

If you put a product out and it need fixing you should be able to do so free.
Imagine a world where your computer needs an update patch for security or something else, you click tools>>>windows update and then go to a credit card payment screen?!
There would be riots!
Bill Gates would be splattered with pies at every opportunity; hey wait that happens quite a bit already but you know what I mean.

Have these companies got no honour or respect for those who keep them where they currently are!

Mc

RE: WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 12:20:26 PM #
Actually this is more like Windows95 -> Windows98 -> Windows98 2nd ED. -> WindowsME -> etc. etc.

You pay 100-300 for these. PalmOS users are too accustomed to getting everything for free. I think its funny when some developer wants $5 for the program or an update and people are in awe that he would have the gall to charge them!

hehe.


RE: WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??
Coyote67 @ 11/15/2001 12:24:41 PM #
Microsoft has been doing this for years. Windows 98 was bug fixes for Windows 95, and Windows 98SE was just one big bug fix. Sony doesn't care about you, they have no customer loyality, they never have. Ever try getting somethign repaired, or contacting anyone doesn't matter who it is over the phone? They are HORRRRRRIBLE.

---------------------------------------
When you find yourself in the company of a halfling and an ill-tempered Dragon, remember, you do not have to outrun the Dragon...you just have to outrun the halfling.
As simple as 1-2-3
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 1:12:36 PM #
upgrade with new features and new innovation or capabilities- cost money

Bug Fix and system fixes to avoid crash - free

Now if sony says this is a bug fix, then it shouldn't charge anything. It would be better if they release it in two tranche - one fixes the bugs in 3.5.2 and one that gives the handheld more colors. Then it would be easy.



RE: WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 1:24:42 PM #
Windows comparisons don't apply. You can't compare a 200MB OS to a PalmOS 2MB one. If you were, then the upgrade cost would be $1-$3 instead of $100-$300 in your example Further you do get bug fixes AND new features for free from Microsoft in the form of Service packs (of which there were even 2 of for Windows 95, and 6 of for NT). Sure lots of this was bug fixes, but also plenty of new features, and one's more substantial than included in OS4. However if it's free, self installed PalmOS upgrades you're looking for, HandEra in the past has been the only place to get that kind of service. Additionally anyone who's done an OS flash and data restore from CF in less than 2 minutes on a TrgPro or HandEra 330, knows how archaic this process is on other PalmOS devices.

RE: WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 3:57:22 PM #
Man for the first time those Sony-lovers have shut up. I sure do love my m505!

RE: WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 4:24:52 PM #
Wasn't the Sony $50 upgrade actually from version 3.5 to 4.0? You know, to enable full 16-bit color support?

RE: WHAT IS THE SONY MASTER PLAN??
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 10:51:27 PM #
The palm upgrade is from 3.x to 4.0 also. As the article says, the upgrade will be free for current 4.0 users (m125, m500, m505).

Where is it?

Hed @ 11/15/2001 12:22:32 PM #
I can't any information of this on Palm's site. I would like to know what the bug fixes are (I think I saw a list earlier.) When will m500 users be able to download this?

faster too?

GregGaub @ 11/15/2001 12:22:12 PM #
I've heard that OS 4.0+ is faster than earlier versions. Is this true for "slower" models such as the V and III lines? Or is it just for the new-fangled ones running 33mhz processors?
I'm interested in this update mainly for the improved alarm handling (I hate having to tap OK five times to get rid of alarms that went unchecked ;-), but if it's faster or more efficient than older versions somehow, I'm all for that as well.
Can someone fill me in on this? Thanks!

RE: faster too?
garner42 @ 11/15/2001 1:54:20 PM #
At the Game Developers Conference last year one of the talks was on PalmOS programming and the speaker mentioned that the 4.0 version doubled the speed of blits due to optimized blit routines. However, I cannot find anything on the web to back this up. This is only real reason to buy it if you have an old palm like me.

I did find a link to the bug fixes in 4.1, but I couldn't find a list of bug fixes in 4.0. Because the link is too long, do a search on "palm os 4.0 bug list" on google and you'll find it.


RE: faster too?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 4:39:16 PM #
The blit technology was given to Palm by handspring.

It is faster, MUCH faster, especially on the IIIc.

RE: faster too?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 10:53:04 PM #
Interesting idea, but wrong. the blit speed on palm OS 4 is significantly faster than it is on any of the HandSpring units also. Too bad that HS isn't using the new OS on any of its non-upgradeable units.

RE: faster too?
dsherlock @ 11/25/2001 2:58:29 PM #
What I have found on blit technology indicates that it speeds up the display, so my question is does that affect only games or all Palm apps?
Is there any conformation on the improvement of the blit technology in 4.1?


Can I have a n update for my Kyocera...

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 12:34:31 PM #
...please?

RE: Can I have a n update for my Kyocera...
jayhawk88 @ 11/15/2001 12:39:49 PM #
I'm guessing not. The OS the 6035's run is a big-time custom job by Kyocera, all kinds of reports of problems by people who have tried to update the OS in the past.

RE: Can I have a n update for my Kyocera...
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 1:34:05 PM #
And Sony and HandEra's aren't big time custom jobs? In HandEra's case, not only do they have their own API's but every single built in application is rewritten to make use of them. And yes they announced that there would be an OS4.x upgrade for existing models as well.

Handera 4.x upgrade free?
popko @ 11/15/2001 5:00:33 PM #
I'm not a a Handera user but I'm starting to feel the pain from My Visor's v3.1 so can some one clear this up for me ... my next palm may be an Handera 330.

RE: Handera 4.x upgrade free?
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 6:08:56 PM #
Well, if you wait till HandEra releases their 4.1 upgrade, they will probably start shipping it with 4.1 installed, or it'll be free because of when you bought the unit.

Every other OS upgrade from HandEra (and previously TRG) has been free. So I have every expectation it will either be free or very inexpensive.

Wow... it's expensive

stephen007 @ 11/15/2001 12:38:55 PM #
Palm Infocenter lists it as 29.95, but on the link to the Palm Store they have it listed as a whopping $39.95! That's a lot of money for very few new features.

RE: Wow... it's expensive
stephen007 @ 11/15/2001 12:45:26 PM #
Okay, I answered my own comment/question.

Apparently it's $10 cheaper if you preorder it.

RE: Wow... it's expensive
Admin @ 11/15/2001 1:54:31 PM #
Palm has been changing the price on me this morning.

When I wrote the article it was listed at the $29 pre-order price, I assumed that Palm may have decided to stick with that. Now I come back after lunch and it's back up to $39 and it's still coming up in a shopping cart as a pre-order. Frankly, I'm not sure what's going on there.

---------
Ryan
Editor in Chief
webmaster@palminfocenter.com

RE: Wow... it's expensive
dsherlock @ 11/25/2001 2:56:34 PM #
I received this from Palm:
Due to overwhelming demand for the Palm OS® v4.1 Upgrade with Mobile Connectivity, we are extending the special offer of 25% off through November 30, 2001. So there's still time to significantly increase the functionality of your Palm™ III, IIIx, IIIxe, IIIc, V or Vx handheld. Step up to the new Palm OS v4.1 through this extended special offer. You'll receive the brand new Palm OS v4.1 for just $29.95 when you use Promo Code OS41WAVE. That's a $10 savings off the list price.


Misleading Article Name

sir_tez @ 11/15/2001 1:07:43 PM #
I got all excited when this finally appeared on the main page only to find out that I can't get 4.1 for the m505. So please change it, so that the rest of us don't seek out this bugfix.
---
Sir-Tez

Sir Tez
IT is a rough life
RE: Misleading Article Name
Admin @ 11/15/2001 1:58:40 PM #
I added upgrade to the title, sorry for the confusion.
-Ryan

200,000 Palm VII users dissed!

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 3:18:55 PM #
Palm VII & VIIx users should revolt.

RE: 200,000 Palm VII users dissed!
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 3:34:21 PM #
I agree completely, but the Palm management has lost touch with its customers.

Basically their attitude is "Tough Luck. We Got Your Money."

My attitude is "Well, I'm on my last Palm."



RE: 200,000 Palm VII users dissed!
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 4:19:15 PM #
Big babies!

Did you cry like this when you found out that you could not run Windows 98 on your 386?

Jeez...

RE: 200,000 Palm VII users dissed!
kevdo @ 11/15/2001 4:23:33 PM #
I am so sick of this kind of attitude. Yes, it is unfortunate that Palm VII is not available with the upgrade.

OTOH - there are plenty of other manufacturers who don't offer any sort of upgrade (Handspring!) within the Palm world as well as in the PocketPC world (many of the "Pocket PC 2000" machines cannot be upgraded to "Pocket PC 2002").

So, who are you going to jump ship to??



RE: 200,000 Palm VII users dissed!
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 5:24:10 PM #
Who are you going to jump ship to? The only PPC maker who had a model that could be upgraded to PPC 200 was Compaq. Absolutely none of the rest of them could be upgraded at all.

Please show me an ad when Palm promised you that your VII or VIIx could be upgraded to OS 4? I'll bet you can't find one. Palm doesn't promise that ANY of their models can be upgraded. The only way to find out is to visit sites like this one. The fact that it has the physical hardware to be upgraded isn't a promise that you can upgrade it.

I'll go one better. I'll bet you don't even HAVE a VII or VIIx. You just like to bitch.

RE: 200,000 Palm VII users dissed!
skoty @ 11/15/2001 6:11:00 PM #
Read the thread just below this one. Your bitching about nothing. 4.1 has close to NOTHING new in it. Quit your whining and wait for a more meaningful upgrade. If you do this one, you'll pay the $30 and then never even notice a difference.

Differences?

skoty @ 11/15/2001 3:44:23 PM #
Can anyone tell me what's new with OS 4.x? I've heard there's some new security features and an alarm manager with 4.0. Anything new with 4.1. Other than that it appears to be only new hardware support.

I have a Handspring Visor Platinum and as far as I can tell, I'm not missing anything except getting to pay for bug fixes.

RE: Differences?
Admin @ 11/15/2001 4:01:13 PM #
Here's a piece on what's new in OS 4 and the m500 series:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=1697

4.1 is just a collection of bug fixes, no new functionality/

---------
Ryan
Editor in Chief
webmaster@palminfocenter.com

RE: Differences?
skoty @ 11/15/2001 4:52:53 PM #
Yup, just as I suspected, the majority of what I'm missing is hardware support. Specifically expansion with SD and MMC cards. With all of the Springboard memory expansion possibilities, Visor users are missing nothing here.

4.0 supports USB syncing, but the Handspring version of 3.5 already supported that (Handspring wrote the USB drivers).

The only application upgrades that I'm missing out on are a newer, easier to use, security app, and the "Attention Manager" that is used to manage all of the scheduled alarms. Again this appears to be very minor. Any of you m50x users out there actually use either of these?

What that article didn't mention was the 65,000 color support that I though was included in the 4.0 version. Again, this was written my Handspring first, and if you have a Prizm, you've already got it anyway.

So, the point is proven, Handspring users are missing out on very, very little here.

RE: Differences?
skoty @ 11/15/2001 5:08:57 PM #
A few more "additions" I discovered after looking at the Palm site:

1. The new notepad (if you've ever used diddle bug, it's identicle)

2. Graphiti and on-screen keyboards can be used simultaneously (I've never had the keyboard up and wanted to use graphiti, isn't that the point of the keyboard?)

3. Internet connectivity tools (If you've got a modem for your Handspring then its: been-there-done-that-already)

OS 4.1 does not USB hotsync with Mac OS

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/15/2001 5:01:39 PM #
Palm OS 4.1 does not USB hotsync with the Macintosh Palm Desktop 2.6.3 like Palm OS 4.0 does.
Will there be a fix for this or does any one know a work-around, other than using IR-hotsync, which is much slower?

I experienced this problem myself and have also read about it in other places, like Palm Infocenter's Sony Clie PEG-n760c review:

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2376

Near the bottom it says:

> Macintosh
> Update: originally said that the N760C
> didn't have problems HotSyncing with a Mac
> as long as the latest version of the Palm
> Desktop was used. I tested this via infrared
> on my PowerBook. Unfortunately, several
> people have written in to point out that
> infrared is the only way that this will work.
> Some USB incompatibility has cropped up with
> Palm OS 4.1 that didn't appear with OS 4.0.


I get the following error message when I try to do a USB hotsync using MacOS 9.0.4 with Palm Desktop 2.6.3:

> Software needed for the USB device "Palm Handheld"
> is not available. Would you like to look for the
> Software on the internet?

Clicking OK returns:

> Looking for drivers

> Software for this device has not been found.
> Please contact the manufacturer of the device
> for the latest version of the needed software.

Does any one else have this problem?

RE: OS 4.1 does not USB hotsync with Mac OS
Ed @ 11/15/2001 5:33:50 PM #
Let's make this clear, SONY's version of OS 4.1 doesn't HotSync with a Mac. Sony never said any of its models will work with the Macintosh. I don't like it either but it isn't like they tricked you or anything. You are going to need to get Mark/Space's The Missing Sync:
http://www.markspace.com/missingsync.html

I also suggest you check out the Clie-Mac page:
http://homepage.mac.com/cliemacpage/

---
News Editor

RE: OS 4.1 does not USB hotsync with Mac OS and m505
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/16/2001 2:31:28 PM #
I did not mention this above when I first reported my Mac USB hotsync problem using Palm OS 4.1, but I am using a Palm m505 running Palm OS 4.1, not a Sony Clie.

Any one else run into this yet?

RE: OS 4.1 does not USB hotsync with Mac OS
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/16/2001 3:04:59 PM #
So you have difficulties with a unauthorized, pirated, unsupported, illegal upgrade? Yeah, that's a problem all right.

RE: OS 4.1 does not USB hotsync with Mac OS
I.M. Anonymous @ 11/18/2001 7:22:58 PM #
The pirated OS 4.1 upgrade for the m505 was hacked together from the Sony version of OS 4.1. Probably explains the USB failure.

Top View Full Comment Thread
Achtung! Only the first 50 comments are displayed within the article.
    Click here for the full story discussion page...

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: