The PalmOS "Debacle"

As a long time user of PalmOS-based devices since their inception, I have a keen interest in seeing the capacities of those products (either hardware or software-based in perspective) continue.

I've had plenty of them, US Robotics devices, a Kyocera 6035, a Kyocera 7135, Treo 650, and at the time of this article a Treo 680.

But Palm keeps playing games putting off providing innovations on their platform.

Obviously there are things that need to change at the Palm campsite, but there are some things that truly are still good and innovative and there are some ways I see to make it happen.

Things that don't suck about PalmOS currently:

• It's FAST, all the time, period
  
• In Apps
• Entering data
• Switching apps
• All of it, it just screams
• I like to believe because of proper design
  
• Historical Calendaring Storage
  
• I have every meeting I have ever attended still in my PDA
• They are searchable, instantly
• They are always with me
• Have you ever tried to get a whole multi-year Calendar from Outlook in to a WiMo phone? Forget it.
  
• Quick access to applications
• All my important apps are 2 button presses away at all times
• No exceptions
• With no 'add-ons'
  
• Transparent Upgrades and Disaster Recovery
  
• When a new device comes out, I simply sync and move my SD Card: done
• Restores done while traveling (automated backup, btw) are just like imaging and are flawless
• Search actually works!
• The search function finds data, in almost any location in the system
• This is of the idea that very basic feature, implemented properly, is very powerful
  

But, PalmOS obviously isn't perfect:
Why are notes and tasks and calendars conceptually different?

• Shouldn't a task or a calendar or a note all be roughly the same data with different criteria?
• I'd really like PDAs to support me just start typing data and figure out what KIND of data it is as I specify more details.
• A note becomes a task when it gets a deadline.
• A task becomes a calendar item if it repeats or gets a start AND end date, etc
  
• Also, 'categories' are so 5 minutes ago, where's the tagging?
• These are generally true about all current PDA/SmartPhone Offerings though
  

Network support is weak

• There is no real network awareness, network is shoehorned in and it shows
• Getting location-based awareness into the address book? a LONG way off in my opinion

Rich Content

• Where is the ability to use rich rtf/html content in PDAs these days?
• Why can't I treat my PDA/SmartPhone like one-note?
• No pictures in notes and/calendar entries on my Phone in 2008? Seriously?
  

Here's what I think Palm can do to solve the problem:

1. Re-write the OS and fix all major things in a new release
1. Already in play with OSII/Nova
   
2. Integrate it with Android and Symbian open Platforms
1. Palm still has differentiation on Calendaring and Tasks and simplicity
   
2. The current state of Android functionality in these areas is WEAK
3. Virtualize the Palm differentiated apps to run on a few key platforms
4. Palm may have already lost the OS battle, save the apps!
3. Do nothing and get pushed out of hardware agreements in the future