PalmSource: Cambio Prototype Program Sharing Application

Posted By: Ryan Friday, February 8, 2002 11:09:03 AM

CNET has a video presentation from PalmSource of a new concept syncing application from PalmSource Inc. The new software title Cambio is an application for sharing Palm OS software programs on your handheld.

The premise is that, users maintain a list of their favorite installed programs. You can rate applications, add notes and other information about your software. Instead of beaming a single application, your list of recommended software is transferred. The receiver can review the information and select multiple apps they would like to transfer all at once. At this time the programs works with IR and Bluetooth.

Similar to Peer to Peer file sharing applications such as Napster, you could potentially scan around a busy train station or business meeting and see who around you is sharing and recommending Palm OS applications. There is no word of when or if PalmSource Inc will release Cambio or if it will be built into future versions of the Palm OS.

Thanks to Wayne for the tip! If you have trouble reaching the correct video, try starting here and select, "PalmSource unveils syncing software."

Related Information

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This is great news!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 1:31:41 PM #

This could be an interesting way to meet women:

"Yo, babe, mind if we do some p2p sharing ;-)"

RE: This is great news!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 12:48:17 PM #

I swear we should make people take an I.Q. test before they are allowed to post...I guess it's that Sony guy with his MP3 player up so loud it sent his bowels rockin ( and scrambled his brain on the way!)

c-net woes

palmcoder @ 2/8/2002 1:04:57 PM #

Is anyone else having problems viewing the video? When I click on the link, I get eventually redirected to the "Motorola unveils new chipset" video.

argh!

RE: c-net woes

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 3:31:17 PM #

that tends to happen, just wait a bit and then try again, it might take a little while, and a few tries...

GREAT a whole new way to spread virus !!

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 1:21:39 PM #

all I need to do is say that freeware (virus) in my palm is great, then ppl that somehow get into my palm through bluetooth can d/l it

RE: GREAT a whole new way to spread virus !!

ssummer @ 2/8/2002 2:06:56 PM #

Dude, like any other thing in this world there's a good implementation and an evil one. You don't HAVE to download stuff from other people.

RE: This is great news!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 3:15:20 PM #

In a club your stats will be matched with a girl, and your and her photo will be auto-beamed via bluetooth connected to club's wireless network and GPS unit will pinpoint each other coordinates ;-)

now this is a great way to meet new friends! :)

RE: This is great news!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 3:33:03 PM #

indeed

Nice but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 1:34:22 PM #

Cambio is a nice idea, esp. if you are using Bluetooth or 802.11 but it makes me wish that rather than designing these new apps they were improving the PIM functions of the PalmOS rather than waiting for OS 6... some 7 years after the last major PIM release back in 1996.

RE: Nice but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 3:49:15 PM #

Why improve the PIM software in palm? There are a ton of 3rd party apps that are great, just use those

RE: Nice but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 4:32:17 PM #

Because some people just don't want to spend money on extra stuff.

RE: Nice but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 5:32:02 PM #

and also because the aftermarket PIMs use the database of the core OS PIM which has several limitations they can't get around. trust me I have ActionNames and lack of more than 15 categories and extra fields for the contacts and schedule is killing me.

RE: Nice but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 6:17:14 PM #

> it makes me wish that rather than designing these new apps they were
> improving the PIM functions of the PalmOS

That's it, you have totally beat this subject into the ground. Every topic that comes up you say something about the PIM apps. You have told us all what you want. Everyone knows. Your job is done. The people who make the Palm OS have heard you and decided to not take your advice. That's tough but continuing to complain about it isn't doing anything besides getting on people's nerves. (OK, my nerves.) If the lack of categories is going to force you to quit the PalmOS, fine. I don't care as long as you are quiet.

Autopond

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 2:01:02 PM #

Reminds me of Autopond. http://www.autopond.com/

Some concerns

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 11:41:13 PM #

I cannot believe noone has mentioned the fact that this could potentially beam software that is deemed NOT beamable. Software that was registered for use only on one PDA.

If the beamed application immediately becomes a unregistered version, that must have a different serial number, that is one thing, however, there are a lot of applications out there that require only a standard type of registration, which could also easily be beamed accross (maybe even in a note).

Is there nobody concerned about the potential piracy of this program ?

RE: Some concerns

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/8/2002 11:46:47 PM #

Apps that have the copy-protect flag set are not available for beaming - so that's not an issue. Apps typically store their "i'm registered" settings in a preference which also won't be beamed over. So it's far less of a problem than you might imagine. Certiainly when you consider all the other ways to get pirated software...

Don't steal software!

RE: Some concerns

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/11/2002 7:35:50 PM #

Added to that weak copy protection bit in OS4, will be Authentication manager in OS5, where rules for what apps can access what data, and what can and can't be beamed from the device will be available. Not that PalmSource seems ready to describe what that functionality will look like since they were asking US what it should look like in the Security sessions at PalmSource.

-Craig Bowers

RE: Some concerns--Here's How Cambio works

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/11/2002 9:43:59 PM #

Wow...has anyone else actually USED this program? I had a copy beamed to me at Palm Source. You choose which programs you want to share from a list of beamable software. No one can go into your Palm via Bluetooth and download anything that you haven't selected as available.

When you first boot Cambio you rate, via a number of stars, how you like the particular piece of software. When you first sync to another Cambio user you get a list of the programs they want to share, and a rating. You select the ones you want and they are automatically transferred.

I think some folks are way over the top with some of the comments...Astroware, who wrote Cambio, did a great job. Once you try it you'll be hooked.