Screenshots from Palm OS 5

PDAFrance has what is says are screenshots from Palm OS 5. The new OS supports up to 320 by 320 pixel screens and these shots show what some parts of the new operating system will look like at this size.

Update: According to ZDnet Japan, PalmSource's CEO David Nagel demonstrated this same GUI at PalmSource Forum Japan 2002 last week.

This isn't exactly what the GUI will look like for everyone. PalmSource has said that the user interface will allow themes and the licensees will be able to create their own new ones.

It should be noted that OS 5 supports up to 320 by 320 screens, not just 320 by 320 screens. While it is almost certain that all high-end OS 5 handhelds will have the 320 by 320 screen, there may be low-end models that still run at 160 by 160.

The primary feature of OS 5 can't be shown in a screenshot: support for ARM-based processors. It isn't locked into to chips from any single company and the OS has been demonstrated running on processors from Intel, Texas Instruments, Motorola, and others. Palm itself has chosen TI to power its OS 5 handhelds.

Despite the change to a new processor, OS 5 handhelds will still be able to run a large majority of current apps thanks to an emulator. According to Steve Sakoman, chief technology officer for PalmSource, about 80% of current apps should make the jump, which, according to him, is about the same number as made the switch to OS 4.

PalmSource has said it is on schedule to have OS 5 to its licencees in June. Palm Inc. has promised to have its first handheld running the new operating system, a wireless model, out by this fall.

Thanks to the numerous people who sent me tips on this. -Ed

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Hope they're real

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 12:22:55 PM #
The high-res fonts and icons look great. I hope it's real.

I would not be surprised if this was real!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 12:24:38 PM #
This sounds beleiveable...


RE: Hope they're real
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 4:21:23 PM #
Looks real to me.

RE: Hope they're real
Carlis @ 4/9/2002 5:39:21 PM #
Latest OS5 POSE have the same icons.. and theme ..
It looks so nice.. I want it in my M515 .. hehe :)

Themes?

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 12:32:08 PM #
That picture on the right side with the pull downs...could those be themes? That would be a nice touch.

RE: Themes?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 12:35:44 PM #
Dude... if you want themes, get a laptop.

Just kidding... I like the idea of themes too! Now I'm all amped for OS5!

Palm Power!

RE: Themes?
Ed @ 4/9/2002 12:41:50 PM #
Yes, that screenshot shows the process for selecting a theme.

---
News Editor
RE: Themes?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 2:55:39 PM #
Not a theme at all, just a color scheme.

RE: Themes?
visorprismman @ 4/9/2002 3:29:25 PM #
It is a color scheme but you can get it now...a really good program is chrome...there are other's too...but sometimes the background doesn't look good cause some third party aps don't use transparent icons...

RE: Themes?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 9:19:20 PM #
>>Not a theme at all, just a color scheme.

I didnt realize balloons was a color. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

RE: Themes?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/10/2002 12:01:24 AM #
If you want themes, get Khroma.
RE: Themes?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/10/2002 10:03:24 AM #
on the snapshot of Palm OS 5, on the right, you can choose your theme....

OOOOOOO..... GROAN

LC @ 4/9/2002 12:28:42 PM #
I should have known.. but I was hoping that the rumors where wrong...
There's nothing innovative here that I can see... if the palm os is going to keep it's dominance Palm should do more to make the device look good and make the OS look good... How are you going to draw more customers in when even the launcher looks dated. People care about what the device's OS looks like (just look at ther reaction of people to OSX) I know that pretty graphics take up more memory and processor power, but the ARM based palms should have power to spare.Is the Zen of Palm totaly against good looking user interfaces?


= = =
LC =
= = =

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 1:06:18 PM #
What exactly do you want to see?

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 1:08:38 PM #
Yes, please enlighten us. You seem to be the speaker of a vast majority or PDA users.

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
sub_tex @ 4/9/2002 1:18:56 PM #
If Palmsource was smart, then the "theme" implementation should mean that not just icons and colors are considered themes but real launchers.

So, someone like sony could make their version of say, megalauncher, and that would be the default view you see on their pdas - not a seperate app to run.

That would prove most flexible and offer users different devices and different views. And if you don't want all that? the base standard decade old interface is there.

For the originator of this topic - you did know that they were not redesigning the gui right? I mean, there have been SEVERAL pictures from Palmsource to show this as well as statements made.

This isn't new news.

Also, it isn't Palmsource's responsibility to redesign the gui really. I mean, not if they are going with the whole philsophy of not having one perfect pda for any one person. They offer all the tools the vendors need to make it THEIR pda.

that's the plan, or so it seems.

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 1:29:48 PM #
>> People care about what the device's OS looks like (just look at ther reaction of people to OSX) I know that pretty graphics take up more memory and processor power, but the ARM based palms should have power to spare.Is the Zen of Palm totaly against good looking user interfaces? <<

Oh, PLEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEE. Yeah, OK, the handful of Mac users left in the world are pissing in their pants over OS X. BIG F-ING DEAL! Mac users are generally overpassionate about their precious over-priced toys to begin with. I totally disagree with your assessment that people care that much about the looks of the OS. They want an IMPROVED view of it through hi-res, but ultimately, they don't care that much if the general look is the same.

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
LC @ 4/9/2002 1:52:25 PM #
Heeyyy... what happened to the free expression of ideas...???

All I was getting at is that in general, many new customers to PDA's and the such are drawn to interesting interfases, ofcourse this concept changes over time, there was a time when the win3.0 interfase was considered high tech!

I am not in any way a mac user of fanatic, but I have seen many people at fry's seriously considering iMacs due to the computer's design and how simple yet modern, high tech and pretty the OS look.

I am just saying that if you look at a PDA display at a compusa, fry's etc. the 'coolest' looking launchers do not come with palm devices. I wish they did so even more people would buy palm, more apps and accesories produced and subsequently more innovations happen.

Anyway, I am happy that there is innovation on the OS side, what I fear is that other companies are out-innovating palm.. I love the platform, I have PPC's and even psions and I allways come back to palm... I just hope they keep giving me reasons to

= = =
LC =
= = =

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 2:31:13 PM #
I'm not sure In understand you. Are you saying that Palm should not concentrate on the way the OS looks, but rather the way the OS looks? Huh?


RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 2:44:15 PM #
Hey, look up there! A flamer in every sense of the word.

There should be some kind of ignorance clause for these boards.

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 3:51:44 PM #
Are you talking about a "flamer" or a "flamer," if you know what I mean? I'm not sure you can totally justify one, and I doubt you could possibly know about the other.

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 6:34:34 PM #
"I am not in any way a mac user of fanatic, but I have seen many people at fry's seriously considering iMacs due to the computer's design and how simple yet modern, high tech and pretty the OS look.

I am just saying that if you look at a PDA display at a compusa, fry's etc. the 'coolest' looking launchers do not come with palm devices. I wish they did so even more people would buy palm..."

Yup...and generally those are the people that shouldn't be buying computers to begin with, because they have no clue what it is or how to use it. Apple has maintained a breath of life in the marketplace by ooohing and aaahing the gullible (oh, and a substantial amount of funding from their chief rival, so there could be "competition" in the market...Apple becomes a pawn of M$). I DEFINITELY don't want these kind of people buying PalmOS devices until they have a genuine use for them and a level of intelligence that allows them to think beyond "pretty pictures" to actual functionality. Let the "pretty pictures" crowd buy a overpriced PocketPC's to go with their overpriced IMAC's. The two products seem perfectly targeted for the same demographic.

This isn't to say that the interface couldn't be jazzed up a little bit, but the day my Palm looks like WinXP or OSX (especially if it is at the expense of performance and usefulness) is the day I ditch my Palm.

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/10/2002 8:37:03 AM #
"Let the "pretty pictures" crowd buy an overpriced PocketPC to go with their overpriced IMAC's. The two products seem perfectly targeted for the same demographic"

I'd disagree - Palm and Apple share the same philosophy - simple but stable. Sure the Apple's OS is cutting edge, but it follows the Palm prinicple that you needn't be a IT graduate to get the most out of a computer!

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/10/2002 9:05:55 AM #
Comment from a previous post:
"Yup...and generally those are the people that shouldn't be buying computers to begin with, because they have no clue what it is or how to use it. ..... I DEFINITELY don't want these kind of people buying PalmOS devices until they have a genuine use for them and a level of intelligence that allows them to think beyond "pretty pictures" to actual functionality"

Begin rant:
Is this a joke, I don't want "these kind of people" buying a palm. The irony hear is that you all sound like a bunch of Mac users and yet your slamming them. Your being just as elitist at about the Palm hardware/OS as a Mac user. And for the record I've owned several PCs and just bought one of the new iMac. I'm not one of those freaks about their computers -- it was the right tool for the right job. Believe it or not, people need computers and peripherals for different reasons -- for a lot of people if it's easy to use out of the box and it looks good too, that's just fine for them. A lot of people don't need to spend hours tweaking their palms so they can use this launcher or that freaky Star Trek theme. They just want an easy to use device that works. Hasn't that always been the hallmark of a Palm?

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
Ed @ 4/10/2002 9:43:37 AM #
Yesterday, this thread turned into yet another skirmish in the Mac/Windows war. Looks like I need to point out again that this is a Palm OS web site. Discussions of who makes the better desktop OS are off topic. That doesn't mean you can't make references to other operating systems in your comments but if you don't mention the Palm OS at all, you are off topic.

Sorry but there have to be some rules.

---
News Editor

RE: OOOOOOO..... GROAN
I.M. Anonymous @ 9/12/2002 11:25:06 PM #
It's simple... very nice. What? Would you like something tacky like PocketPC?

Conformation: The real thing.

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 12:30:01 PM #
Yup, these r real things. BUT they r not taken from a handheld, but rather from an os5 emulator-like program (downloadable form palmos.com). Shore hope to see it soon
:)

Lazy Turtle

(sorry about the spelling)

RE: Conformation: The real thing.
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 12:41:50 PM #
Yes this is just the OS 5 simulator running essentially the normal Palm apps. It is available to registered developers. Although I think the emulator is 320x320, OS 5 apparently supports many other resolutions than just 320x320 and 160x160.

RE: Conformation: The real thing.
acarrino @ 4/9/2002 1:47:40 PM #
If there is anyone out there who has access to more screen shots (in english perhaps) I'm sure we would all appreciate them.

Thanks,
\\ AC

RE: Conformation: The real thing.
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 3:57:01 PM #
How about something fun to see? A showcase what it can do, instead of front icons and a menu page. (ie. the theme at work full blast, make it rawdy)

How about mp3, .mpeg, multimedia and the tauted new networking and security features.

RE: Conformation: The real thing.
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 4:06:07 PM #
what do you want pic's of?? and where do you want them??


p.s. there isnt realy much to see

RE: Conformation: The real thing.
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 4:28:35 PM #
There isn't anything useful to see in the OS 5 emulator. It is really just for developers and only has the usual Palm apps built in for testing purposes.

what about virtual graffitti?

wilco @ 4/9/2002 12:33:27 PM #
This is plain hypothesizing since Palm OS5's still not out. But up to 320x320 means no true high-res with Virtual Graffitti (at least not Sony's NR70 style). 320x320 while nice, won't hack it with next gen PDA, who knows what PPC had in store. Palmsource should try to be ahead of the curve not following Pocket PC.

RE: what about virtual graffitti?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 1:01:04 PM #
I think that will all depend on how manufactures use the Palm OS5 SDK. We just need to wait and see I guess.

Will future handhelds be upgradable from OS 5?

Stefanos @ 4/9/2002 12:38:55 PM #
It is now clear that the PalmOS 5.0 will not take full advantage of ARM processors immediately (at least that is what I read on PIC). Given that there will be future versions (5.5 and 6.0) that will be released fairly quickly, will the first ARM-based PDAs be upgradable and fully compatible with the later versions?

RE: Will future handhelds be upgradable from OS 5?
sub_tex @ 4/9/2002 1:24:06 PM #
Since the os is to be ARM based from here on right now i don't see how software changes in OS 6 would change the device processor chip requirements.

RE: Will future handhelds be upgradable from OS 5?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 2:23:58 PM #
Yes. Earlier devices running on the dragonball processor, with earlier versions of Palm OS, were upgradable to Palm OS 4.1 as long as they had sufficient flash ROM. Now Palm OS 5 takes the OS to ARM processors (so early devices wont be upgradabe to OS 5), BUT these new ARM devices will be able to upgrade to newer versions of Palm OS (5.5, 6.0, etc) provided they too have sufficient flash ROM.

RE: Will future handhelds be upgradable from OS 5?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/9/2002 6:13:26 PM #
Even better, you will probably be able to upgrade them to Linux.
RE: Will future handhelds be upgradable from OS 5?
popko @ 4/10/2002 2:07:13 PM #
"Even better, you will probably be able to upgrade them to Linux."

I kinda like this idea. You buy your PDA just like you buy your computer:

There may be per-loaded OS on your PDA. But you can always reflash the ROM and install OS of your choice.


---------------------------------
I am lost. But I am going to find myself. So if I return before I get back, please ask me to wait.

RE: Will future handhelds be upgradable from OS 5?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/10/2002 2:11:20 PM #
> There may be per-loaded OS on your PDA. But you can
> always reflash the ROM and install OS of your choice.

I'm sure we will have that at some point. There are various OS's that you can already flash onto the iPaq. Of course it would also be nice if the serial/USB connector at the base of PDAs was standardized too.

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