MotionApps Posts New Classic Details

Posted By: Ryan Kairer Friday, April 17, 2009 10:23:43 AM

ClassicMotionApps has recently updated their website and blog with a host of new information and answers to common questions about its upcoming Classic Palm OS emulator for WebOS and the Palm Pre. A more detailed FAQ, seeks to answer many of the common questions users have had since the initial announcement.

The company has also posted a new video demo of the app in action on a Pre. In it, the narrator takes a look at navigating the device and shows Classic running a Palm OS game, Astraware's GTS Racing. The video is also embedded after the break.

Thanks to PreCentral.net for the tip.

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The Pre is all VAPORWARE!!

mikecane @ 4/17/2009 12:21:21 PM # Q
There. I said it before that dope did.

And if you believe the Pre is *still* vaporware, you should go buy some nice Big-3 bank stocks. Or GM stock. Fool.

This looks soooo good!

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Handicapped POS

BaalthazaaR @ 4/17/2009 12:59:12 PM # Q
There are a lot of caveats as to what is supported. I started to post them, but the list got too long.
RE: Handicapped POS
mikecane @ 4/17/2009 5:50:10 PM # Q
I never even considered whether Classic could access Bluetooth. Finding out it couldn't then made me see that - and then get disappointed there will be no BT keyboard via Classic. Not that I expected it, but still.
RE: Handicapped POS
hkklife @ 4/17/2009 7:09:20 PM # Q
Mike;

Just buy a damn Garnet device to ENSURE 100% compatibility with your legacy apps. Palm TX + a new Tracfone + Dmitry's PowerSDHC= less money than a Pre upfront, lower monthly charges and no early adopter pain!


Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->?

RE: Handicapped POS
vetdoctor @ 4/18/2009 7:23:14 AM # M Q
Just what is it eveyone wants to BT from classic that you can't do from the Pre itself.
RE: Handicapped POS
sbono13 @ 4/18/2009 11:38:57 AM # Q
Well, I've got a TomTom GPS kit that runs on my T3. It'd be nice if the I could run it using the built in GPS in the Pre via Classic, but failing that, at least I wish I could access the BT GPS device and ditch the T3. No dice, though.
RE: Handicapped POS
mikecane @ 4/18/2009 5:45:21 PM # Q
>>>Just what is it eveyone wants to BT from classic that you can't do from the Pre itself.

Bluetooth keyboarding. But I'll be glad when webOS has that. It'll be better.

And *stop* with the frikkin TX, you sad pushers. Ain't ever gonna happen.

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WHAT?!

mabsut @ 4/17/2009 1:50:40 PM # Q
Q: Can I run multiple Classic instances at the same time?
A: No, you cannot. The design of webOS is such that it allows only a single instance of a given application to be run at a time. If you try to launch Classic from the main webOS launcher while another Classic is running, the system will simply switch to (bring to focus) the existing Classic instance.

But...but...multitasking? Cards? Is this is a typo?

RE: WHAT?!
SeldomVisitor @ 4/17/2009 1:56:35 PM # Q
Perhaps they are using database entries for some reason w.r.t. application manipulation and keying off something that is only unique to the application, not the instance of the application.

RE: WHAT?!
jca666us @ 4/18/2009 7:19:52 AM # Q
perhaps multitasking is limited to web apps?

If so, this is even more limited then we were led to believe.

RE: WHAT?!
mikecane @ 4/18/2009 5:46:57 PM # Q
This explains webOS:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/041709-palm-pre-webos-lives-up-to-claims.html

Webkit underneath. Doesn't bother me. None of the demos I've seen look anything other than GREAT.

RE: WHAT?!
SeldomVisitor @ 4/18/2009 6:32:53 PM # Q
That article is a bunch of folks who are hoping to make money from their Pre applications pumping the Pre.

Gosh.

They say they LIKE the Pre development environment!

WHOWOULDATHUNKIT!?

RE: WHAT?!
hotpaw4 @ 4/18/2009 8:27:23 PM # Q
I wonder if the JavaScript interpreter may actually be only a single CPU task capable of multiplexing between interpreting different JavaScript threads.


RE: WHAT?!
SeldomVisitor @ 4/20/2009 4:35:38 AM # Q
According to comments I have read, different "tabs" ("cards" for Pre fans) in this particular browser are actually different processes rather than threads - or can be.

RE: WHAT?!
mbgrayson @ 4/20/2009 6:30:17 AM # Q
"that it allows only a single instance of a given application to be run at a time"

I assume that this means one instance of 'classic' can run at a time, but the Pre will still multi-task other Pre specific applications. If s, I have no problem with only being able to run one instance of classic at a time. Truth is, many of our favorite apps will need to be updated eventually any way. Classic just gives up time to keep using our legacy apps for a while longer while new apps are built.

RE: WHAT?! Single PalmOS app at a time
SeldomVisitor @ 5/21/2009 5:24:35 AM # Q
Another comment elsewhere (by someone else) noted that this "single instance of Classic" limits one to a single PalmOS app running at a time, not merely a single instance of Classic.


RE: WHAT?!
BaalthazaaR @ 5/21/2009 10:10:43 AM # Q
Looks like Access is trying to revive interest in GarnetOS. I guess they realized ALPOS is for the dogs :-P.

Tam Hanna has a post on his site about it.
http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2009/05/21/access-doesnt-want-palm-os-dead/

RE: WHAT?!
mikecane @ 5/24/2009 5:44:55 PM # Q
If I understand this correctly:

In Classic, you can only have one app running.

Meanwhile, you can still call up Card View and there will be the deck of webOS Cards, *one* of which will be Classic displaying that single GarnetOS app.

If that's what it is, I have no problems with that whatsoever. I never expected to have mutiple Cards of *Classic* going. (Nor do I expect to be able to use any frikkin *Hacks* or such with Classic.)

RE: WHAT?!
SeldomVisitor @ 5/24/2009 6:06:35 PM # Q
That is also how I understood it.

Thus all those medical folks out there who currently use PalmOS or WinMob devices are stuck with one app at a time with WebOS. I think it is a safe bet that starting and stopping apps under Classic under WebOS is not as simple as under PalmOS nor WinMob.


RE: WHAT?!
twrock @ 5/24/2009 10:03:55 PM # Q
SeldomVisitor wrote:
I think it is a safe bet that starting and stopping apps under Classic under WebOS is not as simple as under PalmOS nor WinMob.

Other than the extra step of actually starting Classic, once you're running it, there is a home button displayed right there on the screen. Why would that be any more complicated to click on than what we currently do to "start and stop" apps in PalmOS? Click "Home", click on a new app, click "Home", click on a new app, etc. Isn't that what you do with your current Palm device? ;-)


Hey Palm! Where's my PDA with Wifi and phone capabilities?

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touch screen

malgeri @ 4/17/2009 7:14:07 PM # Q
I'm not great at evaluating something from a video but didn't it seem like she was having trouble getting the touchscreen to respond to her touch?
RE: touch screen
mikecane @ 4/18/2009 5:48:03 PM # Q
Pre-release hardware is always sketchy.

Unless it's WinMob. Then it's sketchy from birth til death. Just ask VampireLestat!

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Amazing javascript

Nycran @ 4/18/2009 6:59:47 AM # Q
Damn, amazing what you can do with HTML and javascript these days.
RE: Amazing javascript
happyPalm @ 4/18/2009 8:03:41 PM # Q
are you kidding me? you dont expect them to write the emulator with just javascript.

I suspect they took the simulator source and just ported to webOS. Take a look how long it took StyleTap to release their palm emulator.

RE: Amazing javascript
Nycran @ 4/19/2009 7:15:20 AM # Q
Ah yes, that was sarcasm. I'm curious as to what tools Palm exposed to these guys that the rest of us don't know about yet. One hopes that there is a C/C++ dev environment and it's just a matter of time before it gets exposed to the wider developer community.
RE: Amazing javascript
xImtc @ 4/19/2009 2:33:14 PM # Q
While it is probably not a WebKit program, do we know for sure it's an emulator? Might it be an API compatibility layer like WINE is for Windows? That might explain the "better than a Treo" performance, as POS programs are legitimately running as native apps.
RE: Amazing javascript
SeldomVisitor @ 4/20/2009 4:45:57 AM # Q
I'd be real surprised if Palm would allow anything to take over the device.

Reply to this comment

Another Quote Of Infamy

mikecane @ 4/20/2009 7:44:46 AM # Q
"Palm won't be in business in a year."
http://247wallst.com/2009/04/15/twelve-major-brands-that-will-disappear
RE: Another Quote Of Infamy
SeldomVisitor @ 4/20/2009 8:58:45 AM # Q
Not til next year it isn't.

RE: Another Quote Of Infamy
LiveFaith @ 4/20/2009 10:30:24 AM # M Q
Seeds of fear a sowin' while these prostitutes own institutional ''clients'' load up on shares.
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