Rumor: Could Palm OS 6 be called Cobalt?

Posted By: Ryan Sunday, February 8, 2004 4:51:35 PM

After last week's early revelation that PalmSource would announce a dual strategy OS system and rename each OS, speculation has circulated over the new names. A PIC reader noticed a possible admission in the PalmSource Developer conference referring to Palm OS 6 as Cobalt...

PalmInfocenter reader Craig Bowers noticed a peculiar entry in the PalmSource Developers Conference agenda in the handheld guide, released by PalmSource:

"Palm OS Cobalt Technical Introduction"
Tuesday 11:30am to 12:30am
Location: Imperial Ballroom
Speaker: David Fedor
This is the session you've all been waiting for - a whirlwind overview of the incredible array of new features and technology engineered into the latest version of Palm OS..."

The same keynote description on the PalmSource website refers to the talk as "Palm OS 6 Technical Introduction". The use of the word cobalt to describe the OS could have been slip up or it could also refer to a specific technology that is part of Palm OS 6. It could even refer to an internal codeword for Palm OS 6, though that was earlier known to be "Sahara."

Dictionary.com defines cobalt as: A hard, brittle metallic element, found associated with nickel, silver, lead, copper, and iron ores and resembling nickel and iron in appearance. It is used chiefly for magnetic alloys, high-temperature alloys, and in the form of its salts for blue glass and ceramic pigments. Atomic number 27

The word is derived from the German word Kobalt, a variant of kobold, which means goblin. It developed from an old silver miners' belief that cobalt had been placed by goblins who had stolen the silver.

In any case, PalmSource will be make the official announcement Tuesday morning at the PalmSource Developer Conference. The developer and enthusiast gathering will take place February 10-12, 2004 in San Jose, California. PalmInfocenter will be reporting live from the event.

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1st (Third this week ?)

Konstantin @ 2/8/2004 6:01:14 PM #
Great. I wanna my POS 6 right now!

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
moparshaha @ 2/8/2004 8:32:33 PM #
Don't we all...

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
Galley_SimRacer @ 2/8/2004 8:38:29 PM #
They should call it "BabyBe". ;-)

--
"Life is what you experience between racing games"
Galley
RE: NEW Palm Hardware
rsa @ 2/8/2004 9:55:34 PM #
As the name suggest, COBALT, this is indicating a new series of Palm HW, like TUNGSTEN?

This is only a possible name for Palm OS 6 Hardware line up.

Palm COBALT T, COBALT T2, COBALT E, etc...

RSA

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
TTrules @ 2/8/2004 10:42:15 PM #
The name sounds kind of dumb. Makes me think of the GBA.

One Palm to rule them all!
RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
Wollombi @ 2/8/2004 10:53:13 PM #
Hmm...so my Cobalt enhanced Tungsten will be even stronger....woohoo! =)

On a more serious note, it will be interesting to see what is revealed this week.

_________________
Sean

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
terrysalmi @ 2/8/2004 11:26:37 PM #
I want my Palm OS 8 right now!!!! No sooner, and I ain't buying any palms until 8 comes out!!!

Just a little sarcasm to let everyone know how dumb this is.

______________________________________
Kappa Sigma Fraternity - Founded 1400 A.D.

The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it...

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
TechnoPops @ 2/9/2004 12:07:18 AM #
> The name sounds kind of dumb.

So, what? "Tungsten" didn't bother you at all?

"Tunsgten|T. The PDA named after a light bulb filament."

:P

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
dona83 @ 2/9/2004 2:39:36 AM #
Um Tungsten, symbol W, is an element, metal to be exact, just like Cobalt. Although I'm pretty sure my Tungsten's made of aluminium seeing how it deformed rather than cracked during the 100 times it dropped to the floor. (Sony's would crack for sure... aha..)

Current Tungsten T owner, soon to be Tungsten T3 owner

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
chinchorrero @ 2/9/2004 10:37:19 AM #
Do I need a new PDA?.
I want to keep my T3.
Cheers

"Life is Too Short"
Tungsten T3-Sony ericsson T610,HBH-60,SanDisk 256Mb Sd Card
RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
radleyp @ 2/9/2004 11:22:54 AM #
Please, please, let me in on this great secret: why is this important or in fact of any interest at all? Have you run out of topics to post? Philippe Radley

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
MikeInDM @ 2/9/2004 11:51:14 AM #
Heh.. yeah, a slow (very slow) news day. Not really news, not very exciting, not very ... anything ;-)

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
jjsoh @ 2/9/2004 12:09:44 PM #
For those complaining about being a slow day or not having enough material to report on, you do have the choice not to read it. For the rest of us who don't mind reading something different (even if it's not as spectacular as many of you might want it to be), it's still better than not having anything at all.

Also, any bit of information can spark a nice healthy discussion or debate every now and then. Many times I feel that the comments are worth reading more than the article or news piece itself (sans first-posters and trolls, of course).

I don't think it's fair to berate the administrator for posting up any news that is Palm related, no matter how trivial some people may think it is. Would it hurt to just skip the news that doesn't interest you and allow those who might find it interesting to comment? If you feel this site is not up to your standards, you're more than welcome to create and run your own Palm news site.

Jim

RE: 1st (Third this week ?)
hkklife @ 2/9/2004 4:16:08 PM #
Agreed. Ryan could just as easily pull a Palmstation and leave this site out to rot when things get slow. Also, has anyone considered he might be under some sort of NDA in one way or another and cannot do more than give a slight nod to the various rumors circulating around on the 'net? If the recent PIC/PalmOne contest is any indicator, we might be seeing more POne involvement in PIC (for better or worse remains to be seen).

Also, discussions like this can be amusing when looked back upon in a few weeks after OS 6 has been "named". An open-ended news item like this is also a good chance for everyone to chime on the latest rumors or word on the street, such as what I read yesterday on Brighthand or PalmOneCity about a relaunch of the T3. Supposedly, Palm have found themselves a new Chinese manufacturer to source their production to and the new T3's will have ROM updates, uniform screen type/quality, and overall better build quality. I myself claimed two months or so ago that this would be a wise move for Palm, especially if they can relaunch it at a new MSRP of $350ish.



How About Some Details

RyanP @ 2/9/2004 12:09:15 PM #
Palm has said virtually nothing about Palm OS 6, cobalt or whatever they want to call it.

It will be nice to know the name of the thing but i would far prefer a release of information about the OS.


RE: How About Some Details
just_little_me @ 2/9/2004 10:00:41 PM #
Expect *lots* of detail this week as the developer conference unfolds. First keynote in 14 hours...!


JLM.

Software innovation is dead

mikecane @ 2/9/2004 12:58:48 PM #
http://tinyurl.com/34wa3

So, apparently, are catchy names for OSes. Cobalt?! What does that say about its functionality?! Windows is at least descriptive. (Don't get me started on Panther, Jaguar...)

"PalmOS Cobalt." It sounds like radiation therapy for malignancies...

RE: Software innovation is dead
mikecane @ 2/9/2004 1:03:49 PM #
Maybe they need a nice mascot...

http://www.sjbaker.org/tux/

RE: Software innovation is dead
skennedy1217 @ 2/9/2004 1:27:58 PM #
How about a little goblin named Kol (short for Kobold)? That might catch on with the fringe element (probably teenage Tapwave users) of Palm aficionados.


________________________________
M100==>M500==>T|T==>T|T2==> ?

RE: Software innovation is dead
Konstantin @ 2/9/2004 4:05:35 PM #
So how exactly "windows" is descriptive, I beg your pardon.

Is there any OS that has a descriptive one-word name?
I dont think so.



RE: Software innovation is dead
abhinay @ 2/9/2004 8:18:39 PM #
I dont get it mike. What ever does Software Innovation have to do with the name its given? Even if Windoes does make sense, I can make a lot of sense out of Jaguar, Safari, anything... it all depends on perspective. If only you'd wait for the OS to be released without commenting on its innovation. Jeez

RE: Software innovation is dead
abosco @ 2/9/2004 10:17:39 PM #
Windows makes sense because everything you do in that OS is done in windows. Not all OS names make sense, and most of them don't. But the random naming from lighting filaments and the periodic table have got to stop. Palm OS Cobalt? What the hell? Palm OS Sahara at least has a bit of a catchy nature - but Cobalt? They can do much better. Even a cool element would suffice. Palm OS Platinum? Silver? That would make sense, but Cobalt?

I'm wondering how they could make OS 7's name worse. Palm OS Testicular Fortitude?

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616

RE: Software innovation is dead
Konstantin @ 2/10/2004 12:10:26 AM #
Wake up ppl !!!
Does anyone saw the "PalmOS" in front of the Cobalt???
Istn that descriptive??? Da best friggin mobile OS around. WTH with Cobalt?

Remember Windows 3 ? (Everything in windows???)
AFAIK 'windows' isnt all in "windows"; it is called Graphic User Interface.

RE: Software innovation is dead
mikecane @ 2/10/2004 3:26:58 AM #
>>>Wake up ppl !!!
>>>Does anyone saw the "PalmOS" in front of the Cobalt???

Did you read the msg from someone who is AT PalmSource.

Now please go away. Far, far away.

RE: Software innovation is dead
abhinay @ 2/10/2004 6:24:44 AM #
Fact is... the name doesn't matter as does the technology behind it... I cant understand all the fuss about the name.

Not again!

Thunderball @ 2/9/2004 1:55:40 PM #
Names, names, names...

Multithreadingmemoryprotectiondatabasefilesystemopenglsupportopentypefonts?

*phew*

:P

CObalt is already a taken name

SeldomVisitor @ 2/9/2004 5:37:18 PM #
As noted in a private email to PIC editors this morning, "Cobalt" is already used by the NetBSD folks (and that little fact took all of about 10 seconds of searching for "cobalt operating system" on ask.com).

Unless palmsource is interested in a trademark infringement action I doubt they're going to name anything permanent "Cobalt".

RE: CObalt is already a taken name
MountainLogic @ 2/9/2004 7:30:15 PM #
In fact I would suggest that this is an internal code name (from pre Source<->One split days) as it would be too close to PaleOne's Tungsten to be a name that would fly with the other OEMs.

RE: CObalt is already a taken name
cbowers @ 2/9/2004 10:58:36 PM #
Actually it looks like it's a done deal.

It's all over the PalmSource printed materials in the registration swag bag.

Session 310: The Palm OS Cobalt Details: Core OS, Multi-threading, Memory and Data Manager

Session 305: New Palm OS Cobalt Tools Overview and Roadmap

Session 315: The Palm OS Cobalt Details: Multimedia, Graphics, and the Window Manager

Session 300: Going Native on Palm OS Cobalt

Session 325: The Palm OS Cobalt Details:
Sync Manager, CDK and the Desktop

Session 320: The Palm OS Cobalt Details: Communication and IOS

******* Note this one *******

Session 435: Debugging Native ARM Code on OS Garnet and Cobalt with the Palm OS Debugger.

So for leak number two, it would seem Garnet is the second name we were looking.

*******************************

Session 340: The Palm OS Cobalt Details: Schema DBs and IPC Performance

Session 335: Security on Palm OS Cobalt and Prior Releases

Other Misc.:

"Skyy is the Limit with Palm OS Cobalt" - Come join the party in the Imperial Ballroom on Tuesday at 8:30pm
DJ
Interactive Games
*Cobalt shots*
Live music by Hookslide

Also the Palm OS Cobalt Compatibility Contest and the Palm OS Cobalt Protein Powered Contest.


RE: CObalt is already a taken name
skennedy1217 @ 2/9/2004 11:42:59 PM #
So they'll have a soft line named after a semi-precious gemstone, and a hard line named after...well, a hard brittle metal.

One should appeal to newbies and soccermoms, while the other should favor tech geeks and business professionals.

Scott

________________________________
M100==>M500==>T|T==>T|T2==> ?

RE: CObalt is already a taken name
mikecane @ 2/10/2004 3:29:24 AM #
>>>Palm OS Cobalt Protein Powered Contest

Now that would have been one hell of an OS name right there: PROTEIN!

RE: Cobalt is already a taken name
SeldomVisitor @ 2/10/2004 6:17:47 AM #
> Actually it looks like it's a done deal.
>
> It's all over the PalmSource printed materials in
> the registration swag bag...

Well, let's hope they arranged some sort of legal "right to use" for the "Cobalt" name since it certainly is already attached to an Operating System (not like "Apple Computers" and "Apple Records"):

-- http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/cobalt/

RE: CObalt is already a taken name
SeldomVisitor @ 2/10/2004 6:52:17 AM #
Checking a little further it might be that "Cobalt" is a registered trademark of SUN Microsystems (went to "www.cobalt.com" and it forwarded to Sun!).

RE: CObalt is already a taken name
SeldomVisitor @ 2/10/2004 8:37:27 AM #
And checked a little deeper - "Cobalt" isn't/wasn't owned by NetBSD.org though they used that name to denote their distribution of NetBSD for the Cobalt computer platform.


RE: CObalt is already a taken name
robrecht @ 2/10/2004 8:45:56 AM #
FORTRAN was my favorite operating system.

Thanks, robrecht
RE: CObalt is already a taken name
Grishan @ 2/10/2004 6:27:45 PM #
Cobalt is an element name - Co. :-)
The name of the OS become realy ridiculous if we remember the history of cobalt discovery. Sweden chemist Georg Brandt obtain the element from the ore, called "Kobold" by saxonian ore miners. In that time Saxonia was an important mining center, where the metals like silver and copper were mined. Kobold ore looked like silver ore, but noone was able to get silver from it. More of that, the poisonous gas was coming from the melting pots, often causing death. Miners believed that evil ghosts Kobolds are dwelling in the ore, and fooling them.
So, if there will be some bugs in new OS (IMHO that's for sure!), we know who are responsible: Kobolds! :-)

The press release is on the palmsource site

DJS_TX @ 2/10/2004 9:42:43 AM #
http://palmsource.com/press/2004/021004_cobalt.html

David

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