Update: PalmSource has publicly commented that the PalmOS user interface will be redesigned for smartphones as the MAX interface in ALP (ACCESS Linux Platform). In a story on Computing Unplugged, Maureen O’Connell, Senior Director, Corporate Communications for PalmSource, said:
"Aside from that issue, I wanted to mention that it’s not particularly our intention that MAX "inherit much of the traditional look and feel of the Palm OS" — while this paradigm works fine on PDA-like devices with touchscreens, it’s not as effective on more "phone like" devices — MAX is intended to address both effectively."
That makes me even more nervous than before. I like the PalmOS user interface and don’t want to see it "dumbed down" for smartphones. The PalmOS user interface works just fine on the Treo smartphones which sell very well, so we have evidence that it does not need to be overly simplified.
One option PalmSource could take is to provide a simplified launcher and task switcher for smaller smartphones, while keeping something close to the standard PalmOS versions for the more feature-rich smartphones and users who prefer it and for third party applications to use if desired.
Original: I must admit I am somewhat worried about the recently released demo screenshots of ALP (ACCESS Linux Platform, the apparent successor to PalmOS) released by ACCESS, the company that bought PalmSource (the maker of PalmOS).
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