Palm Nova, the Linux-based Palm OS 5 Replacement, to Debut in January
Palm OS 5, the operating system that was launched back in June 2002, will finally get updated; the new software version is called Palm Nova and will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which will start on the 8th of January, 2009. The catch is that Palm did not specifically said it will unveil Palm Nova at CES, it just told the media to expect a “significant announcement” – add that to the previous Palm statements about unveiling Nova by the start of next year, and you get a pretty good indication of what will be presented at CES.
“With Palm management reiterating in recent months that the new Palm OS would be completed by calendar year-end 2008, speculation is likely to be that this will be the venue for the formal introduction of the new next gen OS. Given the timing of the event and the scale of the venue (CES), we would agree with this notion,” explains Avi Cohen from Avian Securities, company that specializes in brokerage services, softdollar services and information technology research.
From a financial point of view, Palm (alongside many others) is experiencing some difficulties, so it would be a very good idea to put out a new OS right about now. Palm is also rumored to bring out a new smartphone model at the 2009 CES, but since its forecasted revenue decline is in the 90% area, many are reluctant to believe in such a rumor. Palm first needs to see a revenue increase, then take on the challenge of developing a new smartphone device (which is not cheap, I’ll tell you that).
If one were to set up some goals for the Palm Nova OS, then it would be to try and bridge the usefulness of the Blackberry with the iPhone’s fun loving nature, to be able to act as a platform for smartphones, game consoles (Gameboy for example) and e-book readers, it would have to achieve a market penetration of 2%, and would have to feature some incredible apps.
Here is what Mike Bell, Apple engineer for 16 years and Palm engineer for 1 year has to say: “I'm fundamentally convinced we're onto something huge. Some of the stuff we're working on here is mind-blowing—better than anything I've seen before.”
“With Palm management reiterating in recent months that the new Palm OS would be completed by calendar year-end 2008, speculation is likely to be that this will be the venue for the formal introduction of the new next gen OS. Given the timing of the event and the scale of the venue (CES), we would agree with this notion,” explains Avi Cohen from Avian Securities, company that specializes in brokerage services, softdollar services and information technology research.
From a financial point of view, Palm (alongside many others) is experiencing some difficulties, so it would be a very good idea to put out a new OS right about now. Palm is also rumored to bring out a new smartphone model at the 2009 CES, but since its forecasted revenue decline is in the 90% area, many are reluctant to believe in such a rumor. Palm first needs to see a revenue increase, then take on the challenge of developing a new smartphone device (which is not cheap, I’ll tell you that).
If one were to set up some goals for the Palm Nova OS, then it would be to try and bridge the usefulness of the Blackberry with the iPhone’s fun loving nature, to be able to act as a platform for smartphones, game consoles (Gameboy for example) and e-book readers, it would have to achieve a market penetration of 2%, and would have to feature some incredible apps.
Here is what Mike Bell, Apple engineer for 16 years and Palm engineer for 1 year has to say: “I'm fundamentally convinced we're onto something huge. Some of the stuff we're working on here is mind-blowing—better than anything I've seen before.”
