ACCESS and PalmSource Announce the ACCESS Linux Platform
ACCESS and PalmSource, today announced the ACCESS Linux Platform (ALP), the latest evolution of Palm OS for Linux. The ACCESS Linux Platform is designed to be an integrated, open and flexible Linux-based platform tailored for smartphones and mobile devices. The platform combines Palm OS for Linux with the NetFront browser and open source linux components.
ACCESS' goal is to have ALP become the platform of choice for the development of high volume, feature rich smartphones and mobile devices for high performance networks, including 2.5G and 3G, worldwide. ALP is designed to provide a complete, consistent and customizable solution for handset and mobile device manufacturers and mobile operators. ACCESS and PalmSource expect to make the ALP Software Developer Kit (SDK) available to its licensees by the end of this year (2006).
"We believe that ALP combines best-in-class open source Linux components with proven mobile technologies developed by PalmSource and ACCESS' Linux expertise," said Toru Arakawa, president and CEO of ACCESS, Co., Ltd. "As a commercial-grade, flexible, open, robust and standards-based mobile Linux based platform, ALP is designed to provide handset manufacturers with faster time-to-market while supporting the goal of operators to offer revenue-generating services, applications and content."
ACCESS Linux Platform
An open and flexible software platform - Major components of ALP include:
- Standard, commercial-grade Linux kernel - version 2.6.12 and above
- Optimized implementation of GIMP ToolKit (GTK+) - popular open source libraries for the creation of graphical user interfaces
- GStreamer - an open source, modular and multi-threaded streaming media framework
- SQLite - a high-performance database engine commonly used in embedded devices
Where appropriate, open source components used in ALP are extended and certified by the Company. For example, ACCESS and PalmSource will enhance and certify the open source BlueZ libraries to provide ALP with a Bluetooth 2.0 technology compliant software stack.
A number of ACCESS and PalmSource technologies have been incorporated into ALP, including:
- ACCESS NetFront browser - a proven success with over 200 million deployments in 721 commercial products for more than 30 handset and 90 Internet device manufacturers worldwide
- PalmSource messaging and telephony middleware - a highly modular and scalable implementation
- PalmSource mobile applications including PIMs, multimedia, messaging, PalmSource HotSync and Palm Desktop -includes the recognized ease-of-use that users expect
By combining ACCESS' robust NetFront browser platform, its extensive business relationships with over 30 handset vendors and Linux expertise with PalmSource's advanced operating system, application portfolio, user interface and developer community, the Company believes that ALP will provide the market with a comprehensive yet flexible and integrated commercial-grade Linux based solution for the mobile market.
Accelerating innovation - ALP features MAX, an innovative application framework designed by ACCESS and PalmSource to deliver an intuitive, easy-to-use user experience and user interface for smartphones and mobile devices. MAX will seamlessly support the concurrent operation of multiple applications and tasks. It will also provide easy access to background tasks. Designed to deliver a predictable and intuitive navigation model for both one- and two-handed user interface schemes, the MAX framework offers the flexibility to support five-way navigation and two dedicated keys, as well as touch-screen and stylus input mechanisms.
Enabling customization - In addition to the MAX application framework, ALP is designed to support the existing Palm Powered Economy, the J2ME developer community and the open source community. This flexibility in choosing application models and user experiences enables handset manufacturers and operators to customize their offerings.
Providing new opportunities for developers - The mobile Linux market is expected to grow from shipments of 3.5 million in 2005 to 28.1 million by 2010, according to the industry analyst firm Informa*. This presents new opportunities for both Palm OS and Linux third-party developers. ALP has been designed to ensure that properly written Palm OS 68K applications will run unchanged. We believe that this compatibility will enable PalmSource's robust community of over 420,000 registered developers to potentially reach new customers and markets.
In addition, ALP, because it includes open source components including GTK and GStreamer, can support a wide variety of third party Linux applications and services. ACCESS and PalmSource plan to provide the developer community with development tools and SDKs to enable them to port existing applications and develop new applications for ALP.
Building a Mobile Linux Ecosystem - Much like PalmSource gave rise to the Palm Powered Economy, ACCESS and PalmSource are focused on enriching the broader Mobile Linux Ecosystem. The first step in this mission is to make ALP is the most service-ready platform for smartphones and mobile devices by providing leading mobile operators the opportunity to collaborate with ACCESS and PalmSource and integrate their feedback and requirements into the ALP development efforts. Secondly, ACCESS and PalmSource will work closely with leading developers to optimize their applications to run on the ALP platform. We believe that doing these things will help build and grow a robust mobile Linux ecosystem that benefits developers, operators and handset manufacturers while providing end users with a wide range of applications to meet the needs of a diverse range of industries and consumers.
Contributing to the Open Source Community - ACCESS and PalmSource have contributed Open Binder, a component object framework, similar in general concept to DCOM and CORBA, but better scaled for use on small devices. Open Binder provides a unique inter-process communication (IPC) paradigm implemented as a kernel-loadable driver, and incorporates a broad range of programmatic utility classes and frameworks. PalmSource and ACCESS have released the Binder driver and its associated frameworks to the open source community. For more information, see www.openbinder.org.
Industry Comments on the ACCESS Linux Platform
"The Linux Phone Standards (LiPS) Forum is dedicated toward specifying an application development environment for Linux based mobile, fixed and convergence phones that will enable developers to write applications and have them run on any LiPS compliant phone profile," said Haila Wang, president and chairman of LiPS. "PalmSource/ACCESS is a leading contributor to LiPS and its new ACCESS Linux Platform embraces this philosophy. This approach will help handset makers and operators to bring phones to the market more quickly and at lower cost."
"NTT DoCoMo has been a pioneer in the Linux mobile phone market since it began shipping the Linux-based FOMA 3G handset. To date, millions of the FOMA 3G handsets have been shipped, which we believe demonstrates the strength and potential of the Linux-mobile phone market," said Dr. Kiyohito Nagata, Ph.D., vice president and managing director, Product and Service Division, NTT DoCoMo. "We are excited about the ACCESS Linux Platform and expect ACCESS and PalmSource to lead further development of the Linux-based phone and application market."
"Samsung is looking carefully at the ACCESS Linux Platform powered by PalmSource. We hope that customers can enjoy an enhanced multimedia experience through flexible and open Linux operating systems," stated Kitae Lee, president of Telecommunication Network Business of Samsung Electronics. "We will adapt the advanced technology faster than any others and keep providing customers with a variety of choices of technologies."
"Wind River shares ACCESS' commitment to helping handset manufacturers and operators provide their customers with a powerful, easy-to-use mobile phone," said Kevin Curry, strategic alliance manager at Wind River. "We believe that the ACCESS Linux Platform is a natural extension to Wind River's device software platform and development suite offering."
UPDATE: See this article for more details on the ACCESS Linux Platform.
Source: PalmSource PR
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RE: Unexpected
HP 4700. Previously every Palm from m500 to Tungsten T3.
www.clieuk.co.uk/gavin.html
gavin (at) pda247 (dot) com
RE: Unexpected
No.
The software development kit is "expected" to be available by the end of the year, not the actual OS:
== "...ACCESS and PalmSource expect to make the ALP Software
== Developer Kit (SDK) available to its licensees by the end of
== this year (2006)..."
There's a big difference between an ADK and an OS and "expect" has been known to have different meanings to ... ahem ... different companies...
RE: Unexpected
RE: Unexpected
It IS what is left of cobalt
-----------
Software engineer at PalmPowerups.com
TH55/U + T|X2 + T|E2 + Zire 72 + Zire 31 + Visor Prism + WristPDA
RE: Unexpected
Hehe. I feel your pain. But, a brand new OS riding on a brand new platform on brand new hardware ... I wouldn't get my hopes up for Palm III stability too soon.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
My, my, my... what HAVE we here?
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
RE: Unexpected
Actually, there's nothing left of Cobalt.
SQLite killed the data manager.
GTK killed the Picasso UI.
Rome is being reimplemented in GTK.
The launcher is new to the Linux implementation.
Well, that's not entirely true. They kept the binder. (see www.openbinder.org)
giggle
May You Live in Interesting Times
Bwahahahaha!
Actually, there's nothing left of Cobalt.
SQLite killed the data manager.
GTK killed the Picasso UI.
Rome is being reimplemented in GTK.
The launcher is new to the Linux implementation.
Well, that's not entirely true. They kept the binder. (see www.openbinder.org)
giggle
Marty you really are one vicious SOB.
I'll say it again: Bwahahahaha!
TVoR
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
PalmOS developers are going to dump the platform in disgust
PalmOS has NO future, folks.
Sorry.
The endgame has begun.
The emperor has NO clothes.
TVoR
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
RE: Unexpected
Seriously, this sounds like basically what happened when Macintosh moved to the BSD Unix based OS X. It really is a whole new OS underneath. We just have to hope it maintains the ease of use of the classic PalmOS.
RE: Unexpected
SQLite killed the data manager.
Good riddance.
GTK killed the Picasso UI.
So... what, no translucent windows? Not to be too harsh, but should I be grieving deeply? I don't know GTK too well, but I welcome our new GTK overlords if it means some interesting software ports from outside the Palm OS developer community. (Skype or Gizmo anyone?)
Rome is being reimplemented in GTK.
Oh, now that's actually juicy, Marty. Last we knew Rome was just research. Way to go, Romans!
The launcher is new to the Linux implementation.
And a fine launcher it will be if it gives a uniform interface to all those different types of applications without the user having to know or care how they were written.
I don't think many people will shed a tear if Cobalt just turns out to be the compost used to sprout a thriving ALP. This in and of itself certainly isn't bad news for users of Palm OS.
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: Unexpected
What planet do you come from, Beersy?
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
WANTED: Cobalt. Dead or Alive.
Actually, there's nothing left of Cobalt.
SQLite killed the data manager.
GTK killed the Picasso UI.
And video killed the radio star...
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
like N770
But the browser is of course different, Nokia uses Opera.
Looks like another win for gtk folks and bad thing for Trolltech's QT/E.
but will it use the X Window System?
RE: like N770
http://www.pikesoft.com/blog/index.php?itemid=49
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: like N770
On the other hand, GTK+ isn't really ready to be standalone, and needs a bunch of window management support. By the time someone has done the work to make GTK+ usable, will they end up with as big a system as X anyway? Will it take them as long or longer than it would take to do the tiny X implementation?
In Novemeber, I put together a Debian/Tiny-X embedded ARM mini-distro, which was less sluggish than the N770 is reported to be, but I didn't run it and Maemo on the same device, so I can't really say.
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: like N770
RE: like N770
RE: like N770
But it's another example of the general purpose versus purpose built argument. Purpose built systems have the advantage of being exact fits, with the disadvantage of being custom one of a kind creatures. General purpose systems have the advantage of flexibility and a large user community with the disadvantage of sloppy overhead.
In the computer industry, as in most technology driven industries, the purpose built gear paves the way but the general purpose gear tends to win in the end.
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: like N770
Mobile Linux has got a lot of buzz but is a pothole-ridden dirt track right now. I think paving first is the right approach. PalmSource can add more lanes when the traffic requires it.
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: like N770
Indeed. PalmSource have a choice between doing the Right Thing (something like Gosling's putative window system) or the Cheap Thing (X).
RE: Sounds great!
I'm sure GSPDA will announce it at the '08 devcon.
(removes tongue from cheek)
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: Sounds great!
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: Sounds great!
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Sounds great!
Be careful with that, Maemo has a completely different application API, and Hildon isn't much like either Garnet/Cobalt, or NetFront.
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: Sounds great!
Oh yeah, there's Hildon, too. Well, perhaps not, then.
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: Sounds great!
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: Sounds great!
Each to his own, I guess. Looking forward to the day when I can look at the MAX API and evaluate this for myself. Nothing against you, Marty, but you come from a different programming background than I do and something tells me that the stuff that you consider to be important is going to be very different from the stuff that me and mine consider important.
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: Sounds great!
David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
Software Everywhere blog
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: Sounds great!
Max isn't Cobalt, and so my jury is out on it, but the way PSRC was headed with Cobalt over Linux was a very bad match and there was no way in your world that it would have been a good competitor.
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: Sounds like absolute shi*
I'm sure GSPDA will announce it at the '08 devcon.
(removes tongue from cheek)
Excuse me, but who the he11 said you could take MY lines. I'm going to have a little chat with Ryan about you, Mr. Fouts.
Rumor has it the Oswin Cobalt phone can triple boot between NetFrontLinux, Cobalt and Windows Mobile. Allah be praised!
And in case you didn't hear, the 2006, 2007 and 2008 PalmSource DevCons have now officially been moved to the Starbucks down the road from PalmSource (the one on N Mathilda Ave). I doubt there will be space for GSPDA to squeeze a product booth in between the donuts.
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
RE: Sounds great!
Are you SURE about that, Beery?
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
Marty shifts into full biotchslap mode:
"PSRC Cobalt Cludge"???
W T F!!!
I assume you won't be getting any Christmas cards from Gassée this year, Marty. Treacherous infidel!
I wonder if PalmSource needs to update its NDA with a clause stopping former codemonkeys from ripping PalmSource's core product to pieces in public... Or at least waiting until AFTER they've failed spectacularly before doing so.
TVoR
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
RE: Sounds great!
One can hardly call an alliterative moniker a 'biotchslap'.
Anyway, I've never meet Gassée, so I doubt I'd ever made his christmas card list anyway.
HAND
May You Live in Interesting Times
RE: Sounds great!
I wonder what "alliterative moniker[s]" Gassée's coming up for you these days? Marty "Mother F*****" Fouts"? Hmmmm... that actually has a little je ne sais quoi.
TVoR
------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------
The Palm eCONomy = Communism™
The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038
NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823
RE: Sounds great!
May You Live in Interesting Times
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