webOS
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 Palm webOS Launcher Screen |
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| Company / developer | Palm, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Working state | under development |
| Source model | closed source (with open source components) |
| Latest stable release | 1.0.4 / 2009-6-29 |
| Marketing target | mobile devices |
| Kernel type | Linux[1] |
Palm webOS is a smartphone platform, powered by Linux, and developed by Palm. The Palm Pre smartphone is the first device to launch with webOS, and both were introduced to the public at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 8, 2009. The Palm Pre and webOS were released on June 6, 2009. The webOS features significant online social network and Web 2.0 integration.
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[edit] Features
webOS's graphical user interface is designed for use on devices with touchscreens. It includes a suite of applications for personal information management and makes use of a number of web technologies such as HTML 5, JavaScript, and CSS.[2][3] Palm claims that the design around these existing technologies was intended to spare developers from learning a new programming language.[4][5] The Palm Pre, released on June 6th, 2009, is the first device to run this platform.
[edit] Platform
Palm publishes a webOS software development kit called Mojo, which will be released late summer (northern hemisphere) of 09.[6] Developer mode can be accessed from the launcher screen of the Pre by typing in the phrase "upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart" (the infamous Konami code). WebOS has a built-in application catalog, and APIs for extending JavaScript in order to access hardware features of the device.[7] Although many of the pre-loaded applications available on webOS are based on the original PIM applications available on Palm OS, webOS is a completely new platform using Linux.[1]
The web browser uses the WebKit layout engine. It supports streaming video in RTSP, H.263, and H.264 formats.[8] On February 16, 2009, Adobe announced that it will be developing a Flash Player for webOS.[9]
Palm commissioned MotionApps to develop a Palm OS emulator, called Classic, for webOS.[10]
[edit] Background
From 1992 to 2002, personal digital assistant maker Palm Computing (later renamed Palm, Inc.) was the developer of the Palm OS software platform. In 2002, Palm created a wholly-owned subsidiary for its software division, naming it PalmSource. PalmSource was later spun off as an independent company which was subsequently purchased in 2005 by Japanese developer ACCESS Co. Ltd. ACCESS used the Palm OS as the basis for its ACCESS Linux Platform (ALP), an open source platform for mobile devices.
Palm licensed Palm OS for continued implementation in its PDAs and smartphones. They also licensed Windows Mobile for their business smartphone line. Palm started developing a completely new platform, as they had no intention of using ALP for future products. After the presentation of webOS Palm will not introduce any new devices with old Palm OS.
Both Palm and ACCESS now promote competing independently developed smartphone platforms, webOS and ALP respectively.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Carroll, Tim (2009-01-19). "TealPoint & Normsoft on webOS: It's Great, But We Want C". Palm Infocenter. http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9689/tealpoint-normsoft-on-webos-its-great-but-we-want-c/. Retrieved on 2009-01-19.
- ^ Rogers, James (2009-01-08). "Palm Soars 35% on Smartphone Debut". The Street.com. http://www.thestreet.com/story/10456913/1/palm-soars-35-on-smartphone-debut.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
- ^ Hartsock, Paul (2009-01-08). "Palm Steals CES Spotlight With New Smartphone and OS". Technewsworld. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/65757.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
- ^ Pearce, James (2009-01-08). "Palm Announces Palm WebOS At CES, Also Palm Pre". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/08/AR2009010802664.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
- ^ Richtel, Matt (2009-01-08). "For a Palm Rebound, the Phone Is Not Enough". New York Times. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/for-a-palm-rebound-the-phone-is-not-enough/?scp=2&sq=palm%20pre&st=cse. Retrieved on 2009-01-14.
- ^ "Palm Developer Network Blog » An update on the early access program and the SDK". Pdnblog.palm.com. http://pdnblog.palm.com/2009/06/an-update-on-the-early-access-program-and-the-sdk/. Retrieved on 2009-07-03.
- ^ Kairer, Ryan (2009-01-08). "Palm Announces the Palm webOS". Palminfocenter.com. http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9666/palm-announces-the-palm-webos/. Retrieved on 2009-01-08.
- ^ Segan, Sascha (2009-01-09). "Palm Pre: The Top 15 Questions, Answered". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2338583,00.asp. Retrieved on 2009-01-12.
- ^ "mocoNews.net - @ MWC: Adobe Creates Fund With Nokia For Open Project; Palm Pre Will Support Flash". washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021600792.html. Retrieved on 2009-07-03.
- ^ "PalmOS Emulation on webOS CONFIRMED: will be done by Motion Apps" precentral
[edit] External links
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