Comments on: Kinoma Player EX v4.4 Released

Kinoma has released a big update for its Kinoma Player EX media player. The Kinoma player brings comprehensive streaming audio and video support to Palm OS devices and includes a large built in media guide and numerous other features. New in v4.4 is the ability to search for YouTube and Google Video, radio stations and images from within the media guide. It also includes streaming improvements when the screen is off, better keyguard handling and a new play-once-and-stop mode.

Kinoma Player 4.4 EX for Palm OS and StyleTap costs $24.95. The update can be download via the integrated version checker or downloaded from the PIC software store. The update is free for registered users. You can check out Kris' previous review here.

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Yes, but why?

MleB @ 11/1/2007 8:08:42 AM #

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel its foolish to the extreme to be purchasing Palm software these days - especially at prices as quoted for products like Kinoma, MMPlayer and Docs2Go?

Certainly by Palm's actions (if not comments) they seemed to have lost interest in their OS, while they've directed all their energies into being a hardware provider for wireless companies - pumping out variations of a 5 year old design - and not always with their OS attached.

While reports of Palm's demise might be exaggerated (or, at least, premature) I can see no value in blowing bucks on a product the manufacturer themselves seem unwilling to support or keep recent.

RE: Yes, but why?

xImtc @ 11/1/2007 9:59:19 AM #

Because I have a 680 *now*.

RE: Yes, but why?

MleB @ 11/1/2007 10:17:46 AM #

Yes, and I once bought VolumeCare to deal with the 680's failings in that regard (again, something in the OS that Palm themselves should have fixed) but that device has since been tossed in the junk drawer as a Jack of All Trades, Master of None in favour of a 'real' PDA (albeit a Palm living on borrowed time) and 'real' cell phone.

The 680 (and each subsequent model) came out without native support to the current computer OS and with a CD of stuff that doesn't work with it either. Palm produces products that are obsolete as new and users shouldn't need to look (or pay) elsewhere to bring them up to speed.

As for 3rd Party bells and whistles on a handheld - regardless of device we own - and paying that sort of cash - well, there's a PT Barnum quote that is just on the tip of my tongue...

RE: Yes, but why?

Charles@Kinoma @ 11/1/2007 2:23:37 PM #

MleB,

It sounds like buying software would be foolish for you personally, but there's a whole other group of Palm customers who depend on their Treo and are mostly interested in how to get the maximum value out of it right now.

For example, our customers really want to be able to play video, music, podcasts, radio stations, etc. on their Treo or Centro. For them, Kinoma Player is a great application at a very reasonable price. (If you ever dig your 680 out of your junk drawer, Google for "kinoma upgrade discount".)

-- Charles Wiltgen

RE: Yes, but why?

hkklife @ 11/1/2007 2:37:32 PM #

Mleb;

True, Palm has absolutely been ostrich-like in burying their head in the sand and refusing to barely acknowledge the fact that XP has been replaced by Vista (no barbs/flames/insults, please). For a consumer-oriented device like the Centro to not ship with a full, non-beta version of Palm Desktop on the bundled software CD is absolutely atrocious. I agree with you 100% on that. However, Palm's arrogance/cheapness/laziness/greed/lack of foresight doesn't detract from the fact that the 680 is still quite a fine device. Now, I personally still prefer a separate phone & PDA but that's another story entirely. My recommendation would be to sell the 680 on E-Bay/PIC marketplace and get some $ for it and maybe buy a new TX or something as a spare device.

As far as Kinoma, they're one of the few examples of a software firm who continues to innovate and spend time & $ on the Palm OS market. Charles can be found on a variety of online forums answering questions and giving helpful advice even to people who have not purchased a copy of Kinoma outright. And yet I regularly have trouble getting any real support via e-mail from developers or publishers of several pieces of software that I purchased. If anything, Palm's software bundles (while dated in the case of every recent Treo but not the Centro) continue to improve. You get a LOT more in ROM on the entry-level Centro than you did on the 600 or 650 of several years, for example.

For example, I'd use apps like Kinoma, PTunes, MobiTV, CorePlayer, TCPMP etc a LOT more if Palm would just give us a larger 320x320 LCD, a higher resolution LCD or a simple 3.5mm stereo headphone jack (that didn't crap out with the slightest nudge). Under spec'd hardware & OS limitations from Palm aren't Kinoma's fault and they've worked wonders

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Yes, but why?

twrock @ 11/1/2007 7:20:12 PM #

the fact that XP has been replaced by Vista

You are going to serve up that statement and then ask us all to bite our tongues? Come on, you're just asking for it!

Thinking about Vista? Think again: http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt
Want an alternative? Try this: http://www.ubuntu.com/ or http://www.mepis.org/

RE: Yes, but why?

MleB @ 11/2/2007 8:04:50 AM #

Hey, I'm streaming via Mundo Radio, using TCPMP to watch ripped versions of my DVD collection on my widescreen TX and listenng to MP3s via Ptunes (and could load something for retrieving podcasts if so inclined) and they're all free. Now granted, I'm not streaming network TV or YouTube, but I really think I can live without that.

And, in the greater scheme of things, these are just fluff - all things that extend Palm into being a multimedia device and not just a PIM - and while nice, aren't essential. And retail software prices should acknowledge that. Well that and the appearance that Palm themselves have abandoned any real development themselves on the OS and sold off its support software.

Buying Palm software now is rather like buying Newton or Psion software. Sure, you may have a device that uses it - but exactly how long will that be useful to you?

Meanwhile, Palm's build quality and screen size/quality isn't going to improve until they are forced to once again build for the end-users and not the wireless providers. A $99 Palm smartphone is all very well and good, but there's a device with an even smaller screen and keyboard - thus making it less useful than earlier versions. While other device manufacturers are striving to give users more robust software, bigger screens and more practical (virtual and hardware) keyboards in a small footprint, Palm is bucking the trend - but perhaps trying to cater to 'the 12 yr old girl' demographic the wireless companies are hoping to attract.

And none of its software is compatible with the current OS - and, how ever much you may hate Vista and think of it as this decade's WinME, Microsoft will never pull it - so get over it and build for it.

RE: Yes, but why?

twrock @ 11/2/2007 12:00:15 PM #

how ever much you may hate Vista and think of it as this decade's WinME, Microsoft will never pull it - so get over it and build for it.

I've read your comment a couple of times, and I still haven't figured out who "you" is in that last sentence. I'm pretty sure that I am not included in that "you" 'cause I do not use, nor do I have any intention of using Vista even though I know jolly well that they are never going to pull it. My gradual transition to Linux is getting along nicely, and I have no reason to believe I will have to "get over it" and embrace Vista.

Buying Palm software now is rather like buying Newton or Psion software. Sure, you may have a device that uses it - but exactly how long will that be useful to you?

Hmm, I could be wrong, but is it possible to buy a brand new Newton or Psion? Are any manufacturers of Newton or Psion units still making them? I believe that there is a company still producing Palm handhelds, and you can buy a brand new one right now. And if you buy one, you might want to buy some Palm software to enhance and extend your handheld's usefulness. Honestly, I bought a new piece of Palm software just two weeks ago, and I'm finding it very useful and expect to still be using it for some time to come.

Clearly YMMV, and it must or you wouldn't be making statements about whether or not other people need to get over their avoidance of Vista or whether or not they might yet find Palm software useful for a significantly long time to come.

Thinking about Vista? Think again: http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt
Want an alternative? Try this: http://www.ubuntu.com/ or http://www.mepis.org/

RE: Yes, but why?

Charles@Kinoma @ 11/5/2007 9:19:13 PM #

And, in the greater scheme of things, these are just fluff - all things that extend Palm into being a multimedia device and not just a PIM - and while nice, aren't essential.

The media experience might be a gimmick to you, but it's central to a lot of Palm users. Thankfully we have lots of customers that want a better-integrated and better-supported experience and are happy to spend the equivalent of a few Starbucks coffees to get it.

You may be upset about Palm software that isn't supported or kept recent, but the people that elect to support Palm software with their dollars are actually doing something about it. Being part of the solution can feel good.

-- Charles Wiltgen